MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Rutgers women's basketball team (8-10, 2-4 B1G) came back against Minnesota (8-9, 1-5 B1G), 65-59, on the road Thursday night to claim the 1,000th program win. The six-point victory also marked head coach Coquese Washington's 100th Big Ten win.
After trailing for the first two quarters of the contest, the Scarlet Knights rebounded to take the lead at the end of the third and ultimately come out on top for their second consecutive Big Ten win.
Kaylene Smikle paced the team with her 14th double-digit scoring outing, netting 20 points. Kassondra Brown recorded her first double-double at Rutgers with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Awa Sidibe (13) and Kai Carter (12) rounded out the group of four Scarlet Knights in double figures.
Along with Brown's game-best 10 boards, Smikle (6) and Erica Lafayette (5) were also key contributors.
How it Happened
- Minnesota got out to a quick start, as the team won the tip and quickly scored on consecutive possessions.
- Rutgers got its first points just under the eight minute mark with a layup from Sidibe to make the score 4-2. The Golden Gophers answered shortly after to go up by four points and force the Scarlet Knights' first timeout at 7:25.
- Out of the stop, Carter hit a jumper to put the game back within two points, 6-4.
- Minnesota once again answered with a jumper and a three to take a 11-6 lead at the halfway point of the period. Rutgers did not stay quiet though, as Chyna Cornwell and Brown combined for three points to close the gap to four points.
- The Gophers added one more bucket at the 2:44 mark to end scoring for the period with the opponent on top, 13-9.
- Minnesota opened the second quarter with a putback at 7:56 followed by another jumper to extend its lead, 17-9.
- Both teams traded a free throw before Sidibe added another pull up jumper just before the 4:45 media timeout with the score, 18-12.
- Sidibe netted a big three-point play after the break for five consecutive points to put the game within three points, 18-15.
- The two teams went onto trade baskets in the final minutes, but Minnesota stayed in front at the half, 26-21.
- The Golden Gophers hit their third three-pointer of the outing to start the third, but Smikle answered with back-to-back scores to cut the deficit, 29-25.
- Once again Minnesota rallied, outscoring Rutgers 7-2 in the next minute to keep a comfortable advantage, 36-27. The opponent called their first timeout of the contest at the 7:43 mark.
- Both teams went onto trade baskets until RU took control of the game with an 8-0 run to make it a one point game, 40-39, forcing the Gophers to use their second timeout. Lafayette and Carter netted two field goals apiece in the stretch.
- Out of the break, both teams struggled to find the basket until Smikle cashed in on consecutive layups to give Rutgers its first lead of the game 43-41 at the end of the third quarter.
- Minnesota quickly regained the 45-43 edge with two consecutive scores to begin the fourth quarter. Carter tied it up with a putback at the 8:29 mark.
- Both teams continued to trade the lead back and forth with four lead changes in the first five minutes of the quarter. The teams were tied, 49-49, at the 4:39 media timeout.
- With a three-pointer at 3:42, the Gophers took over the 52-49 edge, forcing RU's second timeout of the outing. Antonia Bates answered with a shot from deep of her own to even the score.
- Both teams then added two shots from the charity stripe, respectively, to keep the score knotted, 54-all just before the two-minute mark.
- Sidibe put the Scarlet Knights back in front with a layup but Minnesota answered once again with two free throws.
- Carter added two shots from the line while the Gophers went 1-for-2 to keep the RU up, 58-57. Out of Rutgers's third timeout, Smikle added a layup to extend the team's lead to three, 60-57.
- After Minnesota called its third timeout, the opposition hit a free throw to cut the difference back to two points. Sidibe and Carter combined for three points at the line to make it a two-possession game, 63-58.
- With nine seconds to go, Minnesota scored its final points of the contest with a free throw to make the score 63-59. Sidibe came up clutch for her team with two final shots from the charity stripe of here own to secure the win for Rutgers, 65-59.
Knights Notes
- Rutgers is the 22nd Division I program to 1,000 wins and the fourth this season. RU is also the third current Big Ten program to reach the milestone along with Maryland and Ohio State.
- After defeating Nebraska on Jan. 7, this is the first time the Rutgers has secured back-to-back Big Ten wins since last season when the team defeated Penn State (Feb. 13) followed by Minnesota (Feb. 17).
- The victory marks the Scarlet Knights' first road victory this season and the Golden Gopher's fouth loss at Williams Arena.
- RU allowed just 59 points from Minnesota which is tied for its lowest total at home this season.
- With 20 points against Minnesota, Smikle has now reached 20+ points eight times this season and is the only Scarlet Knight to pass the 20-point milestone this season. She also paces the team with 14 double-digit outings.
- RU owned the advantage in the following categories: points off turnovers (20-11), points in the pain (42-26), second chance points (12-11), points off fast breaks (13-4), points off the bench (15-9).
- With three assists, Awa Sidibe has now led the team in the statistic 12 times and dishes 5+ dimes on five occasions.
Next Up
Rutgers will continue its time on the road as the team travels to No. 9/11 Maryland on Sunday, Jan. 15 for a 1 p.m. game.
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