PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women's basketball team (2-0, 0-0 B1G) shined on both ends of the floor to down Wagner (0-1, 0-0 NEC), 86-43, on Thursday night at Jersey Mike's Arena. Kaylene Smikle and Destiny Adams recorded double-doubles to lead the Scarlet Knights to victory.
Smikle earned her first-career double-double in the game, scoring 20 points and grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds. Twelve of the sophomore's 20 points came at the free throw line, as she shot a strong 85 percent (12-of-14).
For the second contest in a row, Destiny Adams secured a double-double in the third quarter. The junior transfer totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds in the contest.
Chyna Cornwell also had a big game for the Scarlet Knights, recording 15 points and eight rebounds.
The game began with an explosive quarter from RU on both the offensive and defensive ends. The Scarlet Knights held Wagner to just four points in the first frame, forcing the Seahawks to turn the ball over eight times. Rutgers in turn recorded 13 of its 21 points of the first 10 minutes off the turns.
The first quarter offense was highlighted by a 12-0 run to end the frame. During the stretch, freshman Jillian Huerter drained a three for her first collegiate points.
The second quarter saw more of the same from the Scarlet Knights, as the team continued turning defense into offense. RU forced the Seahawks into six turnovers, turning their mistakes into seven points.
Rutgers also went on respective 12 and 13-point runs in the second, holding Wagner to its second-straight quarter single digits scoring, allowing just nine points.
The second half was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, with the Scarlet Knights holding strong in their lead over the Seahawks. Rutgers outscored Wagner, 38-30, in the half, with Smikle's 11 points leading the way.
All 10 available players touched the court for Rutgers, with freshman Kennedy Brandt making her collegiate debut.
As a team, RU collected 55 rebounds, 21 assists, 12 steals, and nine blocks in its all-around performance.
How it Happened
- Rutgers started the game off strong on the defensive end, keeping Wagner scoreless until the 6:33 mark in the first. During the Seahawks scoring drought, the Scarlet Knight jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
- Following a layup from Lisa Thompson, RU took an 11-4 lead into a 4:31 media timeout. Out of the break, Jillian Huerter drained her first three-pointer of the night to put her team up 10.
- In the midst of a 12-0 run from the Scarlet Knights, Mya Petticord provided a defensive highlight, intercepting a Wagner pass and netting a fastbreak layup. Following the play, four-straight makes from the charity stripe from Kaylene Smikle helped RU take a 21-4 into the second quarter.
- Following a made Wagner layup, field goals from Kassondra Brown and Destiny Adams pushed Rutgers' lead to 19, 25-6. Following a media timeout, Chyna Cornwell, Erica Lafayette, and Huerter all recorded baskets of their own to contribute to the Scarlet Knight's total 12-0 run.
- Wagner recorded another layup with 5:39 to play, but the Scarlet Knight kept their foot on the gas, responding with a 13-0 run to extend their lead to a monster 38 points, 46-8.
- Cornwell tacked on two additional free throws at the end of the half, as Rutgers took a 48-13 lead into the locker room.
- Petticord got the second-half scoring started with a make from behind the arc. Adams added a point from the charity stripe, but the Seahawks responded with six-straight points, making the score 51-19.
- RU answered its opponents' run with a 7-0 stretch of its own to push its advantage to 58-19. The rest of the quarter saw back-and-forth play from the two teams, as Rutgers took a 39-point lead into the game's final 10 minutes.
- The Scarlet Knights outscored the Seahawks, 11-2, to start the fourth quarter, continuing to widen the gap and make the score, 80-32.
- Wagner closed the game on a 8-0 run, but Rutgers still emerged with the victory, 86-43.
Gallery: (11-9-2023) Rutgers WBB vs. Wagner
Knights Notes
- Rutgers held Wagner to just four first-quarter points, a feat the Scarlet Knights have not accomplished since Nov. 27, 2020 against Monmouth when the Hawks were held to a four-point second quarter.
- Adams recorded a double-double for the second-straight game, recording 17 points and 12 rebounds.
- Adams dished out a career-best five assists and five steals, surpassing her previous marks of three and four set during her sophomore year at UNC.
- Smikle recorded her first-career double-double, using 20 points and a career-best 11 rebounds to accomplish the feat. The 20-point performance is also the 27th double-digit performance of her career and her 16th time with 20+ points.
- Lafayette went 3-for-4 from deep on Thursday night to end with nine points. The trio of three's set a new career high for the senior, passing her previous best of two which she hit twice last season.
- Huerter recorded the first points of her collegiate career, scoring a total of seven on the night.
- Petticord snagged three steals in the first quarter, equalizing her total from opening night against Monmouth. The guard collected a total of four steals in the game. She also six assists to tie a game-high and mark a new career best.
- This is now the second consecutive contest at least three Scarlet Knights have reached double figure scoring and two players have reached 10+ boards.
- Rutgers' 55 boards beats their previous high from last season of 53 rebounds. They have not recorded 50+ off the glass in both outings so far this season.
- The Scarlet Knights also secured 21 team assists, also topping their high from the 2022-23 slate of 18 helpers.
- RU now holds a 7-0 all-time advantage over Wagner, earning its first win over the Seahawks since the teams last met in 2014.
- Rutgers also recorded more points off turnovers (31-13), points off the bench (24-7), points in the paint (44-26), fastbreak points (43-17), rebounds (55-31), blocks (9-3), and assists (21-6) than Wagner.
Volume Up
Next Up
The Scarlet Knights will conclude their three-game homestand against Auburn on Sunday, Nov. 12 (5 p.m.) on the Big Ten Network. Rutgers will then hit the road for the first time this season, taking on Seton Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 15 (7 p.m.) at Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange, N.J.
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