MADISON, Wis. — Despite a late fourth quarter push, the Rutgers women's basketball team (6-16, 0-9 B1G) couldn't pull out the win on the road against Wisconsin (10-9, 3-6 B1G) Saturday, falling 73-62.
The Scarlet Knights made a run in the final minutes of the game, coming back from a 19 point-deficit to put the game within four points but it wasn't enough as the Badgers ended strong to pull out the victory.
Mya Petticord led RU with 15 points in addition to six rebounds. Kassondra Brown (13) and Destiny Adams (11) also reached double figures. Adams paced the team off the boards as well, bringing in seven rebounds.
How it Happened
- Wisconsin took an early 4-0 lead, scoring on two of its first four possessions of the contest. Mya Petticord answered to get Rutgers on the board at the 7:32 mark to cut the deficit in half.
- The Badgers added two more scores just before the quarter's halfway point to stay in control, 8-2. The opposition added four more points before Lisa Thompson hit a free throw to make the score 12-3.
- UW stretched its edge to 22-3 to end the opening period. Thompson started the second period with a three to cut the deficit. Adams followed up with two shots from the charity stripe.
- Wisconsin continued to produce on offense, adding seven points of its own in the opening minutes of the quarter.
- Petticord gave her team a spark, scoring consecutive baskets right before the 4:37 media timeout, making the score 29-13.
- After the break, Kassondra Brown recorded two free throws to further lessen the gap. Thompson and Petticord also followed up with field goals of their own with 2:31 left in the first half.
- The Badgers kept their foot on gas however, keeping the 37-22 lead heading into the locker room.
- To start the third period, both teams stayed evenly matches, trading scores. Brown and Antonia Bates broke through for the Scarlet Knights, combining for six points.
- Thompson contributed one more layup before the under-five media timeout, cutting the difference to nine points, 42-33.
- The teams continued to go back and forth as UW ended the third with a 9-2 run to stay in front, 53-36.
- Adams and Cornwell secured contested layups for RU to start the find 10 minutes, while Petticord added two from the line, to get their team off to a strong start. Rutgers held the opponent to just four points in the opening minutes.
- Brown kept it going, hitting a big three-point play, followed up with a layup. The five-point run forced a Badgers' timeout with 6:27 to play and made it a 10-point game, 57-47.
- Out of the stop, UW cashed in on a layup before Jillian Huerter hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the gap to six and force another timeout from the opponent.
- The teams both continued to fight, trading blows and keeping the contest within single digits with just under two minutes to go. The Scarlet Knights were able to cut the difference to just fourt points.
- The Badgers ended the game on a 9-3 stretch to come out with the 73-62 victory.
Knights Notes
- Since returning to the court after a brief hiatus, Petticord has secured 10+ points in seven of eight contests. Against Wisconsin she led Rutgers with 15 points and has now reached double figures in eight contests this season.
- Brown netted 13 points, signifying the ninth time this season she has reached 10+ points and the 20th in her career. She has topped the team in the statistic in four outings this campaign.
- Adams ended the night with 11 points. She has now recorded double-digit points in the past seven contests and 10+ points 17 times this season.
- Brown contributed a team-best four assists to tie her season-high. She also added two steals.
- Petticord (4-for-4) and Brown (3-for-3) were both perfect from the free throw line on Saturday. Petticord has been 100 percent from the charity stripe six times this slate.
- The Scarlet Knights scored more points off turnovers (19-16), fast breaks (13-8) and off the bench (20-19).
- Rutgers forced 19 turnovers, the 12th time this season the other team has had 15+ giveaways.
- With 12 assists against the Badgers, the Scarlet Knights have recorded 10+ helpers 15 times.
- Rutgers outscored Wisconsin in the fourth quarter, 26-20.
Next Up
Rutgers will return to Jersey Mike's Arena for a midweek contest against Michigan State on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live on B1G+.
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