PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women's basketball team (10-15, 4-9 B1G) dropped a 68-54 decision to Purdue (16-7, 7-6 B1G), on Thursday night at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Boilermakers are currently recieving votes in the USA TODAY Sports women's basketball coaches poll.
Awa Sidibe was the lone Scarlet Knight to score in double figures, netting 16 points. The senior also recorded three rebounds and two assists.
Chyna Cornwell put together a solid performance, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds. Kaylene Smikle and Kai Carter also both collected nine points.
Carter and Antonia Bates both matched their career-highs in steals in the contest, with three and two, respectively.
How it Happened
- Smikle got the scoring going for Rutgers with a layup, but Purdue quickly rallied to jump out to a 6-2 lead at the beginning of the contest.
- Out of a 4:54 media timeout, the Boilermakers used a 12-0 run to extend their lead to 18-3. Sidibe hit a pair of free throws to end Purdue's run, and Cornwell added a layup to make the score 18-7 at the end of the first quarter.
- A Purdue three-pointer opened the second quarter scoring, however Brown responded quickly for RU with a three, cutting the deficit to 13. Carter and Cornwell made back-to-back field goals to bring the Scarlet Knights within nine, but the Boilermakers stretched their lead to 12 with a make from behind the arc.
- Following a three-pointer from Bates, two field goals from Purdue forced a Rutgers timeout with 2:04 remaining in the half.
- A layup from Brown was the last basket of the half for the Scarlet Knights as the team headed to the locker room down, 36-23.
- Purdue started the second half with two three-pointers. Following a layup from Cornwell, the Boilermakers increased their advantage to 19, forcing another RU timeout.
- Out of a media timeout with five minutes remaining in the third, Cornwell hit a big three-point play to spark the Scarlet Knights. Purdue continued to push ahead on offense however, cashing in on a layup to push its lead to 18.
- Smikle began a 9-0 run for RU with her first three-pointer of the contest. The Scarlet Knights began to cut down the Boilermaker's edge, but entered the fourth quarter still down by 11 points, 51-40.
- At the start of the fourth, Sidibe cut RU's deficit to single digits with four straight points. The Boilermakers responded to widen the gap, but Smikle rallied to put the Scarlet Knights back within 10.
- With four minutes left in the contest, Purdue scored eight unanswered points, stretching their lead to 18.
- Rutgers scored eight of the game's last 12 points, but ultimately fell to Purdue, 68-54.
Gallery: (2-9-2023) Rutgers vs. Purdue
Knights Notes
- Cornwell recorded one offensive rebound in the contest. The junior leads the Big Ten in the category this season, with 81 total offensive boards. She is third in total rebounds in the conference, averaging 8.6 off the glass.
- Carter's three steals ties her career-high that she set against NC Central (Nov. 16).
- Bates' also tied her career-high in steals with two in the contest. Her previous career mark came against Illinois (Dec. 7).
- Sidibe shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the game, marking the 8th time this season she has not missed from the line.
- Smikle's one three-pointer made adds to her season total of 44, which leads the team. She has at least one make from behind the arc in all but two games this season.
- Rutgers outscored Purdue in the third quarter, 17-15.
- RU earned more points off turnovers (16-13) and fastbreak points (14-7) than the opposition.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers will travel to No. 5/6 Iowa to face the Hawkeyes on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on Fox Sports 1. The Scarlet Knights then return to Jersey Mike's Arena on Wednesday, February 15, to host Northwestern. The contest will be at 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed on B1G+.
Follow Along
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RutgersWBB) for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter(@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
- RU -
