Box Score LAS VEGAS — The Rutgers women's basketball team (3-5, 0-0 B1G) couldn't get past Boise State (5-1, 0-0 MW) on Saturday night, dropping a 68-65 decision.
Kaylene Smikle paced the Scarlet Knights once again with 25 points in addition to five rebounds, four assists and three steals. For her performance, Smikle was named to the Las Vegas Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.
Chyna Cornwell (12) and Lisa Thompson (10) also reached double figures during the contest.
How it Happened
- Rutgers started off the contest with a pair of baskets from Smikle and Lisa Thompson to take an early 4-0 lead.
- At the 8:30 mark, Boise State scored its first bucket of the game with a three-pointer to make the score 4-3. The Scarlet Knights answered, outscoring the Broncos 7-2 over the following minutes to take the 11-5 edge.
- BSU added a layup but Thompson recorded two shots from the line to keep the six-point gap, 13-7, at the halfway point.
- Both teams continued to trade points, until just before the two-minute mark, when Boise State recorded six unanswered points to make it a two-point game and force a Rutgers' timeout.
- Out of the break, Chyna Cornwell hit a shot from the charity stripe to extend RU's lead, but the Broncos fired back with a three to tie up the score, 18-18. In the final seconds of the opening period, Cornwell cashed in on a second chance layup to give her team the advanatge heading into the second quarter, 20-18.
- The two teams continued to battle in the second quarter, going back and forth to keep the difference at two points through the first two minutes, 24-22.
- However, BSU hit another shot from deep soon after to tie the score up, 25-25. Smikle had the answer though, hitting a three-pointer of her own.
- Boise State did not stay quiet, knotting the contest up once again with another three to make the score 28-28 at the 4:56 media timeout.
- Out of the stop, the Broncos generated three stops on defense and netted six points to get ahead, 34-28 and force another timeout.
- The Scarlet Knights got back on track with a layup from Smikle to cut the lead, 34-30.
- In the final two minutes of the opening half, both teams added four more points apiece to keep BSU in top by four, 38-34, heading into the locker room.
- RU came out on the offensive in the second half, scoring six consecutive points with layups from Cornwell, Thompson and Smikle to regain the 40-38 lead. The run made Boise State use its first timeout of the contest.
- Out of the break, the Broncos hit one free throw but did not score their first field goal until the 6:16 mark to get back ahead by one, 41-40.
- The teams continued to keep in close, but a fast break layup from Smikle put Rutgers back in control at the 4:19 media timeout, 44-43.
- Out of the break, Smikle hit her second consecutive shot from the floor, but Boise State responded with a 9-0 stretch to take back the 52-46 lead.
- Cornwell ended the streak and the quarter with a big three-point-play to cut the difference, 52-49.
- Smikle scored five points in the beginning minutes of action in the fourth, but the Broncos continued to pile on, netting 11 points to keep the edge, 63-54.
- Out of a stop, it was RU who went to work on offense, scoring eight in a row, including back-to-back three's from Jillian Huerter to lessen the gap to one, 63-62.
- BSU used its second timeout with 2:54 to play. Following the pause, the opposition recorded five points to stay up, 68-62. Huerter came back with her third three-pointer in two minutes to make it a one possession game, 68-65.
- Although the Scarlet Knights battled in the final seconds, drawing two fouls and getting two shots off, the Broncos emerged victorious, 68-65.
Knights Notes
- Smike's performance marks the 17th 20-point game of her career in addition to her 23rd time leading the team in scoring and her 31st outing in double figures.
- Cornwell paced the team with eight rebounds for her third time this season topping the team off the glass.
- Antonia Bates led the Scarlet Knights with four blocks to set a new career best.
- The Scarlet Knights outscored the Raiders 27-22 in the second quarter, tied for the most points they've reached in a period this season.
- RU owned the edge in points in the paint (34-20), second chance points (15-12) and points off turnovers (18-17).
Next Up
Rutgers will return home to Jersey Mike's Arena to face Delaware State on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. The team will celebrate Recess Day, welcoming kids and students from across the state of New Jersey. The game is presented by NJEA.
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