PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball posted a commanding 73-53 victory over Wisconsin on Monday night at the RAC and will finish the regular season in the top five of the Big Ten standings.

The Scarlet Knights improved to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in Big Ten play, while the Badgers fell to 13-15 overall and 4-12 in league action.

In celebration of Black History Month, the Scarlet Knights wore commemorative uniforms for the contest donned with a "Celebrating Black Culture Patch". adidas unveiled the collection of NCAA uniforms inspired by the creativity, passion and expression of the early 20th century's Harlem Renaissance.

Sophomore forward Tekia Mack led RU with 17 points and seven rebounds, marking her second double-digit effort of the season. Redshirt sophomore guard Arella Guirantes followed with 13 points, while senior forward Victoria Harris led the team with nine rebounds.

Wisconsin was paced by Imani Lewis with a game-high 18 points followed by Marsha Howard with 16 points in the loss.

FIRST QUARTER
Rutgers came out of the gate with energy to take the lead early. Freshman guard Noga Peleg Pelc extended the advantage with a 7-0 run of her own, ignited by a 3-pointer, midway through the frame to set the score at 11-5 with 2:54 on the clock.

Zipporah Broughton joined in by adding RU's next six points with a 3-pointer and three free throws to give RU a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
The Scarlet Knights continued to grow its advantage into the second quarter with a 12-2 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers for graduate guard Sierra Calhoun and Mack. The burst set the margin at 28-13 with five minutes until the break.

Although Wisconsin attempted to stump the burst with a jumper and free throw, sophomore forward Mael Gilles joined in with a basket from behind the arc to set the Scarlet Knight lead at 31-16.

The teams would trade points on the floor as Rutgers remained in front. RU closed the first half with a 5-0 run, as a steal for Broughton set up a Gilles buzzer beater for a 40-13 lead heading into halftime.

THIRD QUARTER
Although Wisconsin scored the first three points of the third frame, Rutgers responded with a 13-2 run, including a 9-0 surge, to grow its lead to 28-53 with 3:02 on the clock.

The Badgers' Howard put an end to the surge with a layup, ending a near five-minute drought for UW. The Scarlet Knights, however, never let up to close the third stanza with a 57-33 margin.

FOURTH QUARTER
Rutgers held at least a 20-point lead throughout the final quarter, generating a gap by as many as 25 points midway through at 64-39.

Mack contributed eight of RU's 20 points in the fourth frame to help set the final margin at 73-53.



KNIGHT NOTES

• Rutgers improved to 12-2 at home this season.
• With the victory, Rutgers will finish no lower than fifth in the Big Ten.
• Rutgers has held 26 of its 27 opponents under their scoring average this season. Wisconsin averaged 65.3 points per game and was held to 53.
• RU captured 40 points at the half, the fifth time this season with 40 or more points at the break. The Scarlet Knights last 40-point first half scoring effort was in a 71-60 win at Illinois on Jan. 9. In the contest with Fighting Illini, Rutgers held a 44-29 advantage
• In the last three games, Tekia Mack has averaged 16.7 points per game including a team-leading 17 points against the Badgers. It was the second time over the last three games she has led the team in scoring.
• Victoria Harris led Rutgers on the boards for the sixth time this season and 17^th time in her career with a game-high nine rebounds. It was the most rebounds for Harris since hauling in 10 boards in the final game of the Vancouver Showcase on Nov. 24.
• Rutgers outrebounded Wisconsin, 41-30, for its largest margin on the glass since outrebounding Illinois by 21 (42-21) on Jan. 9.

UP NEXT
Rutgers remains home to host Minnesota in its home regular season finale on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. live on BTN. The Scarlet Knights will recognize its seniors in a pre-game ceremony.
 
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