PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Despite a career-high 33 points from Destiny Adams, the Rutgers women's basketball team (6-13, 0-6 B1G) fell short to Penn State (11-5, 2-3 B1G), 94-80, on Sunday afternoon at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Along with her scoring performance, Adams added a game-high nine rebounds and two assists.
Chyna Cornwell matched Adams off the glass with nine boards, in addition to adding eight points.
Kassondra Brown had another strong showing for Rutgers, recording 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Mya Petticord and Lisa Thompson rounded out the double-digit scorers in the contest, with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
How it Happened
- Brown recorded the first points of a game with a layup just 23 seconds in. Adams followed up with a field goal, helping the Scarlet Knights to an early 4-0 lead.
- The Nittany Lions responded, though, netting 11 straight points to jump out in front, 11-4. Brown ended PSU's run with a field goal at the 5:52 mark.
- At the quarter's four-minute mark, Thompson earned her first points of the afternoon with a corner jumper off a pass in transition from Antonia Bates. Following the two points, Rutgers was down, 16-8.
- The teams went onto trade back-and-forth baskets for the remainder frame, as Penn State came up with the 29-17 edge after one.
- Adams recorded the first four points of the second frame for RU, before Penn State tacked on a 7-0 stretch to push its lead to 15 midway through the quarter.
- Adams continued her scoring push for the Scarlet Knights, ending the Lady Lions' run with her own 5-0 stretch.
- Cornwell and Adams added points for Rutgers to end the quarter, but the Scarlet Knights faced a 45-30 deficit heading into halftime.
- Brown opened up the third quarter in a big way, recording five-straight points in the frame's first 40 seconds to bring PSU's edge down to 10. The graduate student kept it up following a media timeout with another two points to put the Scarlet Knights within eight.
- After a Penn State field goal ended Brown's run, the teams went on, answering each other's scores for the following three minutes. Entering a media break with 4:34 left in the frame, Penn State stayed in control, 56-44.
- Erica Lafayette hit a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer to end the third quarter. Entering the final frame of the contest, RU was down, 66-53.
- Thompson and Adams got scoring going for Rutgers early in the fourth, but Penn State continued to push its lead. With 7:17 to play, the Nittany Lions stayed in front, 75-57.
- Out of a timeout, Thompson (3) and Adams (2) added points for Rutgers, but PSU responded with a field goal to keep its lead at 19.
- With 4:09 to play, a three-point play from Petticord ignited a 7-0 run from the Scarlet Knights. A Penn State three ended the run at the 2:49 mark, but Cornwell answered with two free throws for RU.
- Petticord and Adams each recorded points in the final two minutes of the game, but the Scarlet Knights went onto the fall to the Lady Lions, 94-80.
Gallery: (1-14-2024) Rutgers WBB vs. Penn State
Knights Notes
- Adams ended the night with a career high 33 points. The junior has now reached double-digit points in the past four games, 10+ points 14 times this season and led the team in scoring on five occasions.
- Adams is the second Scarlet Knight to record a 30+ point performance this season and the first to do it in Big Ten play since Arella Guirantes netted 36 points at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 22, 2020 against Ohio State.
- Brown's 13 points marks the seventh time in RU's last nine contests that the graduate student scored 10+ points in a game. She has reached double figures in eight total contests this campaign.
- Since returning to the court after a brief hiatus, Petticord has not scored less than 10 points. She has reached double figure scoring in five consecutive games and six this season.
- Bates paced RU in assists with five in the contest. The sophomore has 48 total helpers on the season to lead the Scarlet Knights.
- Petticord went a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line, marking the second time in three games the sophomore has shot 100 percent at the charity stripe.
- RU out-rebounded PSU, 38-22. The Scarlet Knights have recorded more boards than their opponent three times in their last five outings.
- Rutgers outscored Penn state, 23-21, in the third quarter.
- The Scarlet Knightts recorded more second chance points (19-7) and points in the paint (42-38) than Nittany Lions.
- Rutgers still holds the all-time 33-21 advantage against Penn State in head-to-head meetings.
Volume Up
Next Up
The Scarlet Knights will hit the road to face Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 17 for a 7 p.m. contest.
Following the trip, RU will return to Jersey Mike's Arena to host Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 21 (2 p.m.) for the program's 50 Seasons Celebration Game.
Follow Along
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