PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women's basketball team (11-19, 5-13 B1G) dropped a 75-53 decision to #25/RV Illinois (21-8, 11-7 B1G) on Sunday afternoon at Jersey Mike's Arena in the team's regular season finale. The program celebrated Senior Day, as graduate student Abbey Streeter was honored pregame for her accomplishments with the Scarlet Knights.
"Abby Streeter was the first person I talked to as head coach of Rutgers women's basketball," said head coach Coquese Washington. "She and I had a conversation about whether she would honor her commitment, and she said 'Coach if you will have me, I'm Rutgers through and through.' To start your tenure with that kind of loyalty to the program means so much. She was always the first person in the gym and last person in the gym to leave all season long. That kind of consistently, in terms of effort and preparation, set the tone for what this program would be, and what this team would be this year."
Kaylene Smikle led the way for the Scarlet Knights on Sunday afternoon, netting 18 points and grabbing six rebounds. The freshman also recorded four steals, her fourth performance in the last five games with three or more swipes.
Chyna Cornwell and Kassondra Brown were the other double-digit scorers for RU, recording 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Awa Sidibe added eight points, six boards and three assists in the game.
How it Happened
- The Fighting Illini opened scoring with a three-pointer. Sidibe and Brown responded, combining for four points to give RU a one-point edge.
- Illinois jumped out to a 15-6 lead midway through the first quarter. The Illini used a 9-0 run to force a Rutgers timeout.
- Cornwell ended the opposition's run with a layup, but the Illini continued to pile on the points, taking a 21-8 lead into the second quarter.
- The Fighting Illini got things going in the second quarter once again, with one point from the charity stripe.
- Brown came back with two points for Rutgers with a layup, but the team still trailed 27-14, at the halfway point of the period.
- Smikle ended a 7-0 run for the Fighting Illini with a make from behind the arc. Brown added four points at the end of the second quarter, but Rutgers headed to the locker room down, 37 -21.
- The Illini got the second half scoring started with a three-pointer. Kai Carter made a layup for RU, to give the Scarlet Knights a spark.
- UI stretched its lead to 47-25 with a made layup. Cornwell put Rutgers within 20 with a field goal at the 4:35 mark.
- With 3:45 to play, Illinois had a 53-29 edge. Smikle and Brown rallied for the Scarlet Knights, combining for five unanswered points.
- Sidibe scored the last basket of the third, as RU entered the final 10 minutes of play facing a 21-point deficit.
- At the start of the fourth, Antonia Bates completed an old fashioned three-point play for Rutgers. Smikle followed up with a big three-point play of her own to cut the deficit.
- The Illini did not let up however, extending their lead to 27 with four-straight points.
- The Scarlet Knights battled as the two teams traded buckets until the 4:19 media timeout, with a score of 69-45.
- Smikle added the last five points of the game for RU, generating turnovers on defense in addition to points on offense.
- Although the Scarlet Knights fought in the fourth quarter, only getting outscored by one point, 18-17, the team ultimately fell, 75-53.
Gallery: (2-26-2023) Rutgers WBB vs. Illinois
Knight Notes
- Smikle recorded her 25th double digit performance of the season with 18 points. She has netted 10+ points in 17 of the last 18 games and has led the team in scoring 18 games this slate. She leads the team with 17.5 points per game including 19.6 per game in Big Ten play.
- The freshman added to her team-leading 51 makes from behind the arc. She has at least one three-pointer in all but two contests this season.
- Smikle also paces the team with 64 steals, earning four takeaways against Illinois. She has recorded 3+ steals on 12 occasions and led the team in the statistic 14 times during the season.
- Cornwell recorded six rebounds on Sunday afternoon. The junior is third in the Big Ten in the category, averaging 8.4 boards per game.
- The Scarlet Knights added three blocks against the Fighting Illini, continuing to rank among the best in the Big Ten with 125 denials.
Volume Up
Next Up
The Scarlet Knights turn their attention to the postseason following the regular season finale. Rutgers awaits its official seed in the Big Ten Tournament that begins on Wednesday, March 1 and will take place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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