PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball (6-7) won its second consecutive game on Tuesday evening, defeating Central Connecticut State (1-6) by a score of 56-45 at Jersey Mike's Arena.
The Scarlet Knights led from start to finish, leading by as many as 16 in the second quarter following its most productive opening period of the season with 22 points on 75 percent shooting during the opening 10 minutes. CCSU got within nine in the fourth quarter, but no closer as Rutgers improved to 6-2 on its home court in 2021-22.
Tyia Singleton finished one rebound shy of a double-double with game-high marks of 16 points and nine rebounds.
Lasha Petree added 10 with a pair of three-pointers, six boards, two assists and two steals.
Sayawni Lassiter directed the offense with a career-best seven assists in the victory.
RU outrebounded its opponent for the 11
th time in 13 games, earning a 37-26 advantage on the boards on Tuesday. Rutgers outshot CCSU .434 to .354 and outscored the Blue Devils, 24-17, on points off turnovers. CCSU was led by Ashley Berube's 14 points, just under her season average of 17.9 points per game.
- Osh Brown, Tyia Singleton, and Lasha Petree all scored six points in a quarter marked by efficient passing. The Scarlet Knights assisted eight of their nine buckets and shot 75% in their most productive opening quarter of the season.
- Rutgers fought off a 6-0 run as the Blue Devils made 7-of-9 from the floor to cut their deficit to three at 32-29 before Sayawni Lassiter and Tyia Singleton made consecutive layups and the defense kept CCSU scoreless over the final three minutes to set the halftime score at 36-29 in Rutgers' favor.
- RU suffered a scoring drought in the third, going 1-of-9 during a stretch that allowed the Blue Devils to get back within single-digits. However, CCSU managed just six points in the period and Singleton scored the final four points of the quarter to give Rutgers a 48-35 advantage.
- Petree netted four points in the fourth, fighting off another Blue Devil comeback attempt, getting as close as nine. Rutgers forced five turnovers in the frame to keep its opponent at bay.
- With 17 assists on 23 baskets, Rutgers has now assisted 80 percent of its field goals over the past three games.
- Rutgers has outrebounded 11 of 13 opponents this season with an average margin of 7.3.
- The Scarlet Knights had at least 10 players score in a game for the eighth time this season.
- Sayawni Lassier set a new career-high with seven assists, passing her previous best of six with Florida State against Wake Forest on Feb. 3, 2019.
- Lasha Petree made multiple three points (2-of-4) for the fourth time this season.
- The Scarlet Knights held Central Connecticut State 15 points under their season scoring average. Rutgers has held opponents under their scoring average in 30 of its last 32, and 117 of its last 127 dating back to 2017-18.
- Double-figure scoring career marks: Singleton (7th), Petree (72nd)
- Rutgers is undefeated at 6-0 when outscoring opponents in points off turnovers and points on the fast break. RU is 0-7 when trailing in those specialty categories.
- The Starting 5 of Jailyn Mason, Sayawni Lassiter, Lasha Petree, Tyia Singleton, and Osh Brown was the eighth different starting variation employed by acting head coach Timothy Eatman this season.
- Rutgers moves to 4-0 against Central Connecticut State, joining wins from 2009, 2010, and 2018, all at home.
- Shug Dickson missed the game with a non-COVID-related illness.
Rutgers continues its four-game homestand with a Sat., Dec. 18 date against Wagner at 12 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena.
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