Box Score Feb. 23, 2017 EVANSTON, Ill. - The Rutgers women's basketball team fell in its final regular season road game dropping a 60-38 contest to Northwestern.
Junior guard Shrita Parker led Rutgers (6-22, 3-12 Big Ten) in scoring with 13 points and tied her career-high with four steals. Sophomore guard Khadaizha Sanders joined Parker in double figures with 10.
Northwestern (19-9, 8-7 Big Ten) was led senior Nia Coffey. Coffey, who was held to single digit scoring for only the second time all season in the first meeting between the squads, logged 27 points, including a 6-of-6 performance from the line.
While a three from Parker gave RU an early 8-5 margin, the Wildcats proceeded to take an 11-0 run to take a 16-8 lead into the second quarter.
Northwestern established a 23-11 advantage with 6:10 left before intermission, but Rutgers was able to whittle its deficit down to a five-point gap. RU produced an 8-0 run with four different Scarlet Knights in the scoring mix. Sanders capped the run with two shots from the line as Rutgers trailed 23-19 with 3:16 left in the quarter.
The Wildcats closed the second quarter outscoring the Scarlet Knights 8-2, as RU was limited to a pair of free throws by Parker. Northwestern entered the locker room up 31-21 at the half.
Out of the break, Parker was responsible to slimming down the Northwestern lead to single digits three times. The Virginia Beach, Virginia product scored six of RU's eight third quarter points. The Wildcats, however, used a late 6-0 surge to reclaim a double-digit advantage and entered the fourth quarter ahead 44-29.
Northwestern maintained a double-digit edge throughout the final frame, outscoring RU, 16-9 over the game's final 10 minutes.
The Rutgers women's basketball team closes out the 2016-17 regular season on Sunday against No. 12/9 Ohio State at 3 p.m. at the RAC on ESPN2. Senior guard Alex Alfano and senior manager Chris Campbell will be honored prior to tipoff.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- Rutgers registered a season-high 16 steals. The Scarlet Knights' previous high was 14 in the win over Wisconsin on Jan. 4.
- Khadaizha Sanders logged five thefts, her second-straight contest with five steals. She has had five or more steals in a contest on four occasions this season and three or more steals in a matchup 13 times.
- Shrita Parker four steals to tie her career-high. She also had four steals in RU's previous game at Wisconsin on Feb. 18.
- Parker also led RU in scoring for the 15th time this season. She has led the Scarlet Knights on the scoreboard in 11 of the 15 Big Ten contests.
- Victoria Harris also tied her career mark in steals with four. She last logged four steals in the Jan. 14 victory over Michigan St.
- Harris also led RU on the glass with six boards. In the last three games, she has averaged 6.7 rpg.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersWBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersWBB) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
-RU-
