PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women's basketball team (11-16, 5-10 B1G) came back to defeat Northwestern (8-18, 1-14 B1G), 62-48, on Wednesday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.
The program celebrated its Black Excellence Game in honor of Black History Month.
The teams went back-and-forth all night, as the game contained 10 total lead changes. Northwestern jumped out to an early 14-10 lead after the first quarter, but Rutgers outscored the Wildcats in the second quarter to cut the deficit to one going into halftime.
With 10 minutes to play, the contest was knotted at 42, but the Scarlet Knights outscored the Wildcats, 20-6, in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Rutgers forced 28 Northwestern turnovers in the victory.
"I was really pleased with our defensive intensity in the fourth quarter," head coach Coquese Washington said, "Before going into the fourth quarter, we talked about how we had to be really good on the defensive end and rebounding. We had to finish off the game with a strong defensive quarter, and we did that."
Junior Chyna Cornwell had a career-high 17 boards in the win, helping Rutgers out rebound the opposition, 46-33. The forward also contributed eight points.
Kaylene Smikle also had a big night, netting 21 points and grabbing seven rebounds. She tied a career-high five steals for the second straight game, as the freshman continues to provide strong defensive efforts for RU.
"[Kaylene] doesn't think about leading the team day in and day out," Washington added. "She's still enjoying being a freshman, and we don't put that pressure on her. We talk about everyone going out there and playing their role, and so she knows her role is to try to get points for us."
Kassondra Brown netted double figures, collecting 12 points and going a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity stripe.
Awa Sidibe recorded 11 points and nine rebounds, marking her second most boards in a game this season.
How it Happened
- Erica Lafayette scored the first points of the game at the 7:34 mark. Northwestern responded by going on a 7-0 run, earning a 9-4 edge entering the 4:48 media timeout.
- Brown put Rutgers within three with a pair of makes at the free throw line, but Northwestern increased its edge to eight with five straight points.
- Brown added a field goal, but the Wildcats remained in front, 14-10, at the end of the first quarter.
- Northwestern took their first double digit lead at the start of the second quarter, forcing a Rutgers' timeout. Out of the break, Cornwell and Sidibe put the Scarlet Knights within six with two made layups.
- The Scarlet Knights used a 6-0 run to decrease NU's edge to two with 5:14 to play in the half. The Wildcats added a field goal, but Smikle's five straight points gave RU its first lead since the game's first basket.
- NU reclaimed the lead, 30-27, with 1:53 remaining in the half. Cornwell sank a pair of makes at the charity stripe, but Northwestern still took a one-point edge into the locker room, 30-29.
- Smikle reclaimed the lead for Rutgers with a free throw, but Northwestern held on to their advantage, 37-32. Three straight layups from Kai Carter, Antonia Bates, and Sidibe gave the Scarlet Knights a 42-40 advantage, but the Wildcats knotted the contest at 42 at the end of the third quarter.
- The teams traded baskets to begin the fourth quarter, as Rutgers took a 47-46 lead into a 5:11 media timeout. Out of the break, Brown and Smikle scored five straight points, giving the Scarlet Knights their biggest lead of the contest, 50-46.
- RU used an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 10, only the second double digit lead of the contest for either team. The Scarlet Knights took a timeout with 1:26 to play.
- Brown and Smikle tacked onto the RU lead with four points at the charity stripe, and ultimately helped the Scarlet Knights to the 62-48 victory.
Gallery: (2-15-2023) Rutgers WBB vs. Northwestern
Knights Notes
- Cornwell set a career-high with 17 rebounds, surpassing her previous mark of 16 that came against Cornell (Nov. 27). The junior is third in the conference in rebounds, averaging 8.7 off the glass. She is the Big Ten leader in offensive rebounds with 91 total.
- Smikle's 21 points marks her 22nd double digit outing this campaign and her 13th with 20+ points. She has scored 10+ points in 14 of the last 15 contests, and leads the team with 17.6 points per game including an average 20.0. points in Big Ten play.
- Smikle added to her team-leading 48 three-pointers with two makes from behind the arc on Wednesday. She has at least one three-pointer in all but two games this season.
- Smikle's five steals ties her career-high that came against both NC Central (Nov. 16) and Iowa (Feb. 12).
- Bates also tied her career-high in steals in the contest, with two. The freshman set the mark against Illinois (Dec. 7), and has now matched it three times.
- The team's 16 steals matched their most in a game this season. The Scarlet Knights set the mark against NC Central (Nov. 16).
- Rutgers out rebounded Northwestern, 46-33, in the contest. The Scarlet Knights have grabbed more boards than their opponent in 12 games this season.
- Brown was perfect at the foul line for the eighth time this season. She shot 6-for-6 at the charity stripe in the win.
- The Scarlet Knights went a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line in the first half.
- Rutgers 17 offensive rebounds is its second most in a contest this campaign. The team had 21 against NC Central (Nov. 16).
- Rutgers collected more second chance points (14-7), fast break points (22-5), and points off turnovers (24-11) than the opposition.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers is set to embark on a two-game road trip next week beginning with Wisconsin on Monday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on Big Ten Network. The Scarlet Knights then face No. 12/13 Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET on B1G+.
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