PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Kassondra Brown recorded her 1000th career point during the Rutgers women's basketball team's (6-5, 0-0 B1G) victory over La Salle (3-5, 0-0 A-10), 98-67, on Tuesday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Brown, a graduate student out of Abington, Pennsylvania, had a strong game with a season-best 12 points, goinig 5-of-8 shooting (63 percent) from the field, along with six rebounds. The center used a layup at the fourth quarter's 7:02 mark to record her 1000th career point.
"It means the world to me," said Brown. "Especially the love that I got from my teammates. It was a surreal experience, thinking about the work I put in and how long I have been doing this means a lot to me. Everyone did a great job of making me feel special and making me feel loved."
"Kassondra Brown means so much to this team," said head coach Coquese Washington. "She is the heartbeat of that locker room. She came here last year and what she has brought in attitude to this program can't be understated. For us to be a part of celebrating such a monumental accomplishment with her means everything to this program. We are so happy for her and happy that she did it here at Rutgers."
Kaylene Smikle recorded a game-high 21 points in her second-career double-double. The sophomore added 11 boards, 10 of them coming on the defensive end.
Destiny Adams also secured a double-double for the Scarlet Knights, netting 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. In addition, the junior added four assists.
Jillian Huerter netted a career-best 16 points as she continues to put her shooting ability on display. The freshman shot 5-of-7 (71 percent) from the field, along with 4-of-6 (67 percent) from beyond the arc.
Lisa Thompson and Erica Lafayette rounded out Rutgers' double-digit scores, with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The performance marked a season-best for Lafayette.
Rutgers held the advantage for the majority of the contest, only trailing for a total of 17 seconds. The Scarlet Knight pushed their lead to as many as 32 points late in the contest.
The Scarlet Knights put together an impressive offensive showing with their season-best 98 team points and six players scoring in double figures. The win also marked the second-straight game this season that all available players recorded a point in the contest.
RU controlled the pace of the game, outscoring the Explorers on the fast break, 27-8, and forcing 17 turnovers. The Scarlet Knights also dominated the paint with 30 (46-16) more points down low than the opposition.
How it Happened
- Thompson got the Scarlet Knights on the board right away with a made three-pointer just 13 seconds into the game. Smikle quickly added a layup to put RU up, 5-0, before the teams entered a three-minute scoring drought. Smikle ended the stretch with two makes at the charity stripe.
- A made field goal put La Salle on the board at the quarter's 5:50 mark, but the Explorers still trailed, 7-2.
- Prior to the game's first media break, the teams traded layups, keeping the Scarlet Knights' lead at five heading into the timeout.
- Following the break, the Explorers looked to equalize the contest, scoring four-straight points to close their deficit to just two, but Huerter responded immediately, sinking a three from the corner to push RU's lead back to five.
- Rutgers closed out the first quarter on a 7-0 run, taking a 21-15 lead into the second quarter of play.
- The Scarlet Knights outscored the Explorers, 12-6, through the first three minutes of the second quarter to give themselves their first double-digit edge of the contest, 33-21.
- At the 2:50 mark, Huerter grabbed a defensive rebound off a La Salla miss, taking the ball coast-to-coast, and ending the sequence with a three from the corner. She would finish the first half going a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
- The teams traded back-and-forth baskets in the half's final stretch. Brown recorded a pair of makes at the free throw line as RU took a 47-36 lead into the locker room.
- Chyna Cornwell opened the second-half scoring with a three-point play at the start of the quarter. After a La Salle jumper, Adams added a layup, keeping Rutgers' double-digit lead, 52-38.
- A pair of made free throws from Huerter with 6:11 remaining in the third marked a new career-best for the freshman with her 15th and 16th point.
- At a 4:37 media break, Rutgers held an 18-point lead following a layup from Brown.
- The Scarlet Knights continued to push the pace, using a 6-0 run to stretch their edge to 21. The run was highlighted by a transition behind-the-back pass from Thompson that assisted a Smikle layup.
- RU held a 73-50 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play. Points from Lafayette (5), Thompson (3), Smikle (2), and Brown (2) helped the Scarlet Knights outscore the Explorers, 12-6, four minutes into the final quarter. During the stretch, Brown's layup marked her 1000th career point.
- The teams recorded back-and-forth points in the final minutes of the contest. Kennedy Brandt closed out the game's scoring with two free throws, as Rutgers claimed the 98-67 victory.
Gallery: (12-5-2023) Rutgers vs. La Salle
Knights Notes
- Brown's 12 points marks a new season-high, as the graduate student also recorded her 1000th point in the victory with a layup at the 7:02 mark in the fourth quarter. She becomes the 39th Scarlet Knight in program history to reach the milestone.
- Huerter's 16 points marks a new career-best, surpassing her previous high of 15 set against Saint Francis (PA) earlier this season. The freshman also dished out a career-high four helpers.
- Smikle's performance marks the 18th 20-point game of her career in addition to her 24th time leading the team in scoring and her 34th outing in double figures. The double-double was also the second of the season and her career.
- Smikle matched a season-best three steals. She has now secured three or more grabs in five contests this season and 17 over the passt two campaigns.
- Adams' 17 points and 10 rebounds marks her third-career double-double. The performance was also her eighth game of the season in double figures.
- Thompson's five assists marked a new career-best for the freshman. She has recorded 11 total helpers in the last three contests.
- Bates contributed three helpers in the win. She is averaging 3.5 assists per game to lead RU through 11 games.
- With Smikle (21), Adams (17), Huerter (16), Brown (12), Thompson (11) and Lafayette (10) all in double digits, it marks the first time six Scarlet Knights have scored 10+ points since Nov. 9, 2019 when the team defeated Coppin State.
- Rutgers' 98 total team points marks a season-high for the team. The performance was also the mst points for the program since they scored 99 points in a win over Sacred Heart on December, 20, 2020.
- The outing was the first 90+ point performance in the Coquese Washington era.
- RU out-rebounded La Salle, 46-39, marking the eighth time the team has edged their opponent off the glass this campaign.
- The Scarlet Knights took care of the ball, only recording nine turnovers, their fewest of the season.
- RU recorded more fastbreak points (27-8), second chance points (18-7), bench points (40-30), points off turnovers (19-9), and points in the paint (46-16) than the Explorers.
- Rutgers is now 7-1 in the all-time series against La Salle.
Volume Up
Next Up
The Scarlet Knights open their 2023-24 Big Ten slate against Indiana on Saturday, Dec. 9. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the contest will be available to watch on the Big Ten Network. Against the Hoosiers, RU will also celebrate Community Day and its Blackout Game. There will also be postgame autographs.
Follow Along
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