WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — It came down to the final seconds, as the Rutgers women's basketball team (6-10, 0-3 B1G) dropped a heartbreaking decision to Purdue (9-5, 2-1 B1G), 77-76, on Tuesday night to close out its first Big Ten road trip of the season.
Destiny Adams led the way for the Scarlet Knights with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double. Jillian Huerter (16), Lisa Thompson (16) and Mya Petticord (14) reached double figure scoring as well.
In addition to Adams, Chyna Cornwell also registered double digits off the glass, bringing in 11 boards.
How it Happened
- Purdue got out to the first lead of the game, with two baskets to go up 4-0. Huerter answered with a three-pointer to make the score 4-3 as the Boilermakers called their first timeout at 8:42.
- Both teams continued to trade scores on the floor, until Rutgers tied things up and eventually took the 10-8 lead with a layup from Adams at the period's halfway point.
- The Boilermakers stormed back, scoring seven unanswered points to regain the 15-10 edge with just over three minutes to go. The opponent went on to end the first on a 9-4 run to end the first 10 minutes with a 10-point advantage, 24-14.
- Both teams were evenly matched in to begin the second quarter, with the Scarlet Knights having the slight 5-4 edge in the opening three minutes thanks to back-to-back scores from Petticord and Adams.
- The transfer duo combined for three more points to close the gap back to four points just before the five-minute mark, 28-24.
- Out of the 3:45 media timeout, the Scarlet Knights netted consecutive buckets to lessen the difference once again, 30-28.
- The Boilermakers piled on to end the opening half, but Huerter hit her second three of the contest with just seconds left to keep it close heading into the locker room, 34-31.
- Both teams came out in the second half fast, trading trips up and down the floor. Huerter hit a big three-pointer off a pass from Petticord to keep it close in the stretch.
- RU continued to challenge the opposition, keeping the score within six points with 5:34 to play in the third. At the 4:45 media timeout however, Purdue took its biggest lead of the half, 52-43.
- Adams netted a layup after the break, but the Boilermakers followed up with a three and two shots from the line to force a Scarlet Knights' timeout at 57-45.
- Rutgers outscored Purdue by four points in the final 2:32 of play to keep the gap at single digits, 63-55.
- The Boilermakers stretched their advantage back out to double digits, 67-57, with 8:31 left and forced RU to use its third timeout.
- The teams continued to trade baskets until Huerter hit another three-pointer at 7:12 to close the gap back to nine, 71-62.
- RU continued the momentum, netting six unanswered points to keep it close, 74-68. Despite the Boilermakers adding two shots from the charity stripe, Rutgers continued to pile on, netting six more points.
- With under a minute to go, the Boilermakers hit one more free throw to make the score 77-74. However, Petticord followed up with a jumper to put the contest within one point, 77-76, with 35 seconds to play.
- Despite some last minute efforts, Purdue was able to hold on and win by one point.
Knights Notes
- Adams' double-double marks the fourth of her career and her first since Dec. 5 when the team played La Salle. She has reached double figures in 11 outings this season.
- The junior from Manchester, New Jersey also went 11-for-11 from the free throw line, making her the first Scarlet Knight to hit 10 or more consecutive free throws since Kaylene Smikle did it against Maryland (Jan. 15) last season.
- Petticord (14) and Thompson (16) both reached double-digits for the second consecutive Big Ten game, after registering 12 and 17 points, respectively, against Northwestern.
- Cornwell has now hit 10+ rebounds 18 times during her career.
- Huerter hit four three-point field goals on Tuesday night, tying for her second-highest total this season. The performance marks the third time she has hit four or more threes in a single game.
- The 77-76 decision marks the closest score difference Purdue has had all season and the closest they have come to losing at home.
- RU recorded more second chance points (16-15) than Purdue.
Next Up
Rutgers will return home to Jersey Mike's Arena to face No. 4/3 Iowa in front of a sold out crowd on Friday, Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
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