PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women's basketball team (3-1) jumped out to an early lead and didn't look back, defeating NC Central (1-3), 66-45, on Wednesday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Led by a career night from Awa Sidibe, the Scarlet Knights held onto the lead for the entire contest, getting out to their biggest advantage of 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Eagle's rallied in the second half, but, the senior guard's 18 points and six assists, both career highs, were too much to handle.
"She's always been a really good defender, since we first saw her in the gym," head coach Coquese Washington said. "The thing she's really improved is her high post jumper. She puts in the work, she's always in the gym getting up shots. That's the thing I see the most that's improved is her ability to knock down the high post shot."
Seven players scored in another balanced effort by Rutgers, with three players in double figures. In addition to Sidibe game-high 18 points, freshman Kaylene Smikle provided her second consecutive +10- point performance, recording 12 points and eight rebounds while Erica Lafayette added 12 points.
Rutgers took advantage of NCC ball handling, scoring 26 points off their turnovers. The Scarlet Knight also added 16 steals in the win.
RU capitalized from the charity stripe, shooting 78.3 percent (18-of-23), while only allowing NC Central to take two trips to the line.
For the third time this season Rutgers held the advantage off the boards, earning 45 rebounds compared to the Eagle's 31. When Rutgers records more rebounds than its opposition, it is 3-0.
How it Happened
- Rutgers started off hot, with a three-pointer for Carter on the first possession of the game.
- NC Central answered to make the score 3-2 early. Sidibe followed up with scores on consecutive possessions to keep the lead, 9-6.
- Two straight threes by Abby Streeter and Smikle put the Scarlet Knights up 15-8. As fouls plagued NC Central, Rutgers capitalized, taking a 18-10 lead on two free throws by Cornwell with 1:08 left in the quarter.
- Rutgers ended the first up 20-10, never conceding their lead in the game's first 10 minutes.
- NC Central opened the second quarter scoring with a three pointer, but Kassondra Brown answered with a jumper of her own to make it 22-13. After that, the Eagles struggled to find find the net, going without a bucket through the midway point of the period.
- At the 4:22 mark, a quick pair of field goals by Sidibe in under 20 seconds kicked off a 12-2 run by Rutgers. The team was stout on defense, forcing six turnovers in the final 5:10 of the opening half.
- Rutgers took a 35-17 edge heading into the locker room.
- A layup by Sidibe kicked off the scoring in the third quarter, but the Eagles quickly answered, outscoring Rutgers 8-2 through the next three minutes.
- NCC's run ended thanks to Smikle. The freshman hit two straight field goals to put Rutgers back in front with a comfortable 43-25 lead.
- At the 4:44 media timeout, RU held NCC to 0-of-4 from the field and earned three turns over the previous 2:36.
- Streeter cashed in on a layup to put Rutgers up by 20, with 3:49 to play in the third. Just five points were scored by both teams the rest of the quarter. Rutgers took a 46-29 lead into the fourth.
- The team's began the fourth quarter trading baskets. NC Central continued to fight, closing the gap to only nine on two straight field goals. The Scarlet Knights responded by going on a 6-0 run to extend the lead back to 15 points. Erica Lafayette highlighted the spurt with a big three-point play.
- A pair of free throws by Sidibe at the 1:49 mark gave Rutgers a 61-45 lead. A three pointer by Lafayette closed out the game, giving the Scarlet Knights a 66-45 victory.
Gallery: (11-16-2022) WBB vs. NC Central
Knight Notes
- Sidibe and Erica Lafayette have now reached double-digit scoring in all four games this season. Smikle and Brown have amassed 10+ points twice while Cornwell has done it three times.
- Three or more players have reached double figures in every game so far this campaign.
- RU has been solid from the charity stripe through the first four contests of the season, with a 74.2 shooting percentage on the season while holding opponents to 64.7 percent.
- Rutgers registered a season-high 16 steals, their first double-digit performance of the season. Smikle led the charge with a career-high five grabs.
- Smikle and Brown paced the team with three blocks each, tying a career high for Brown and setting another new career best for Smikle.
- The Scarlet Knights continue to get faster, as they outscored NC Central 24-5 off fast break points. They also won the battle in points in the paint (30-24) and second chance points (9-2).
Sound On
Next Up
Rutgers will leave Jersey Mike's Arena for the first time this season to compete in Battle4Atlantis in the Bahamas from Nov. 19-21. The team will take on Tennessee in the first contest of the three-game tournament on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. ET. The game be streamed on FloHoops.
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