PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women's basketball team (3-3, 0-0 B1G) fell to Fairfield (3-1, 0-0 MAAC), 78-54, on Monday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Chyna Cornwell led the way off the glass for the Scarlet Knights, grabbing a game-high 13 boards. The senior center also added seven points for RU.
Destiny Adams and Jillian Huerter led the way for Rutgers in scoring, recording nine points apiece.
Antonia Bates also added a season-high eights points, including two three-pointers. The sophomore also recorded three assists and two rebounds.
How it Happened
- Antonia Bates opened the game's scoring with a three-pointer to get things going for Rutgers. A made layup from Chyna Cornwell then helped the Scarlet Knights jump out to an early 5-0 lead a minute into the game.
- Fairfield held a 11-9 lead heading into the first media timeout of the contest. Out of the break, the Stags downed a three to extend their edge, but Jillian Huerter answered immediately for the Scarlet Knights with a make from beyond the arc.
- The Stags ended the quarter on an 18-0 run to take a 34-14 lead into the second.
- Huerter (3), Bates (3), and Destiny Adams (2) added points for RU, but Fairfield held its advantage, 45-22, heading into a 4:53 media timeout.
- The Scarlet Knights ended the half with a 9-2 stretch of their own, but Fairfield still took a 47-31 edge into the locker room.
- Kaylene Smikle and Lisa Thompson opened the second half with a combined five points to put RU within 11. The Stags responded with another 8-0 run, stretching their lead back out to 19 going into a 5:06 media timeout.
- Kassondra Brown and Smikle tacked on three points with two minutes to play in the third, but Fairfield kept itself out in front, 62-41, heading into the game's final ten minutes.
- The Stags opened the final frame with five-straight points, but the Scarlet Knights responded with seven unanswered scores. RU remained down, 70-50, entering the contest's final media timeout.
- In the game's final minutes, Fairfield stretched its lead to as many as 28, as Rutgers fell, 78-54.
Knights Notes
- Cornwell grabbed a game-high 13 boards. The senior's total tied her season-high.
- Rutgers edged Fairfield in defensive rebounds, 25-23.
- Bates netted a season-best eight points.
- RU outscored Fairfield in the second quarter, 17-13.
- Rutgers combined for 13 team assists, as Smikle (4), Adams (3) and Mya Petticord (3) led the way.
- Erica Lafayette paced the squad with two steals to tie her career-high which she has now matched four times.
- The Scarlet Knights still hold a 3-1 edge in the lifetime series with the Stags.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers will head to Las Vegas, Nevada for the South Point Classic to face Texas Tech (Nov. 24) and Boise State (Nov. 25). Both contests are set to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET and be available to stream on FloHoops.
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