PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball (7-9, 0-4) fell to Minnesota (8-7, 1-2) by a score of 62-49 on Thursday evening at Jersey Mike's Arena.
The Golden Gophers built a double-digit lead by halftime, but the Scarlet Knights would again refuse to concede without a fight – holding the visitors to 29 percent shooting over the final two periods and getting within six in the fourth quarter. Minnesota closed the game on a 7-2 advantage over the final 3:33.
Shug Dickson paced the Rutgers offense after missing the last game, netting 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting with three 3-pointers and three assists.
Osh Brown registered her NCAA active career-leading 53
rd double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.
Chyna Cornwell continued her ascent with eight points and eight rebounds.
The Scarlet Knights continue to own the court down low, outrebounding an opponent for the 14
th time in 16 games. RU also dominated the paint with a 30-18 advantage. Minnesota stayed ahead with eight three-pointers, a 16-of-19 mark from the free throw line, and Jasmine Powell's game-high 19 points.
- Chyna Cornwell scored six of Rutgers' first 11 points, including the first four points of a 6-0 Rutgers run to get within two at 15-13. Minnesota led 17-15 after the first.
- The Golden Gophers went on the attack with a 9-0 rally leading to a double-digit advantage. Rutgers missed nine shots in a row during a dry spell, but Shug Dickson picked her team up with eight consecutive RU points over the final 90 seconds as Minnesota took a 38-27 lead into half.
- Osh Brown scored eight points in the third quarter, including six over the final 2:18 as RU pulled within seven at 48-41 with 10 minutes to play.
- Dickson stayed hot from the field, but Minnesota kept pace and maintained a 10-point lead for most of the final period.
- Osh Brown recorded her fourth double-double of the season, extending her NCAA active career lead to 53. She also increased her NCAA active career lead in total rebounds with 1,250.
- Chyna Cornwell's eight rebounds were a career-high, passing her five from the Delaware State game in December.
- Rutgers has outrebounded 14 of 16 opponents this season with an average margin of 7.3.
- The Scarlet Knights held Minnesota seven points under its season scoring average. Rutgers has held opponents under their scoring average in 33 of its last 35, and 120 of its last 130 dating back to 2017-18.
- Double-figure scoring career marks: Brown (76th), Dickson (44th).
- Rutgers lost for the first time this season when outscoring opponents in points off turnovers (12-10 vs. Minnesota), falling to 7-1 in those games. RU is now 0-9 when trailing in fast break points (11-5 vs. Minnesota).
- The Starting 5 of Sayawni Lassiter, Victoria Morris, Joiya Maddox, Tyia Singleton, and Osh Brown was the 11th different starting variation employed by acting head coach Timothy Eatman this season.
- Rutgers is now 6-5 all-time against Minnesota. The Minnesota win snapped a perfect 6-0 home record for Rutgers in the series, and was the first victory for a visiting team in the 11-game series.
Rutgers heads to No. 8/7 Michigan for a Big Ten game on Sun., Jan. 9 at 12 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
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