Box Score PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS — The Rutgers women's basketball team (3-4) kept it close through the first half but fell to No. 19/5 Texas in the final round of Battle4Atlantis, 82-44 on Monday night.
Freshman Kaylene Smikle led scoring for the Scarlet Knights with nine points while Chyan Cornwell paced the team with eight rebounds.
How it Happened
- Rutgers got on the board first with an early second chance layup from Kassondra Brown in her first start for RU. Texas tied it up shortly after, 2-2.
- Erica Lafayette cashed in on a driving layup to put the Scarlet Knights ahead, 4-2. The Longhorns answered to knot the score once again, 4-all.
- Both teams struggled to find the basket through the middle of the period, until Texas cashed in on a pair of free throws. Through the three-minute mark, the Scarlet Knights forced three turnovers from the Longhorns in under four minutes.
- Kai Carter and Awa Sidibe added points to keep the score close, 13-9.
- Texas came out to a quick five points in the second quarter to go up 18-9 and force a timeout from Rutgers. The opposition continued its' run with another six points before Smikle netted her first three of the game to end the stretch.
- The Longhorns stayed strong through the middle of the quarter, scoring on back-to-back possessions to extend their lead, 28-12.
- Smikle added a jumper followed by a shot at the line from Chyna Cornwell to cut the deficit, 28-15.
- Texas didn't stay quiet though, recording a free throw of its own before Brown secured her first three-pointer of the season to cut the difference to 13.
- Antonia Bates added a bucket right before the end of the opening half but Texas stayed in front, 32-20.
- Lafayette opened scoring in the third with a jumper, but Texas followed up with five points to keep its edge, 37-22.
- The two teams traded baskets until RU strung together a 6-0 spurt to put the contest within 10 points. At the 4:43 media stop, the teams remained tight, 42-32.
- With just under two minutes to play, Texas went 4-of-4 from the field to regain a comfortable lead, 49-33.
- Both teams ended the third with shots from the charity stripe to make the score 55-39.
- Carter and Sidibe found the basket early in the fourth for RU but Texas stayed on top in scoring, going on a 12-2 run to take the 26-point edge.
- The Longhorns carried onto end with a big fourth quarter and take home the 82-44 victory.
Knight Notes
- Brown started her first game for the Scarlet Knights against Texas. She had 29 starts in her career prior.
- Cornwell ended the tournament ranked third with nine offensive rebounds while Sidibe ranked third with 15 defensive boards.
Next Up
Rutgers will return home to Jersey Mike's Arena to face Cornell on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m.
Follow Along
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