PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women's basketball team (5-3) defeated Georgia Southern (5-2), 77-60, at Jersey Mike's Arena on Saturday afternoon.
A massive third quarter, where the Scarlet Knights outscored the Eagles 22-5 and went on a dominant 17-0 run, helped propel RU ahead for their fifth win of the season on the final day of the Battle on the Banks tournament.
Kiyomi McMiller and JoJo Lacey each recorded a career-high 11 rebounds to go with 25 and 15 points, respectfully, for their first double-doubles as Scarlet Knights. Destiny Adams tied her personal best with six steals while Zachara Perkins grabbed a career-high eight boards off the bench.
How it Happened
- Mya Petticord started the scoring off with a three-pointer followed by a Destiny Adams layup to give the Scarlet Knights an early five-point lead.
- Both teams traded baskets until the 4:48 media timeout, with Rutgers holding its five-point edge, up 12-7. Kiyomi McMiller added her first points of the contest with a fastbreak jumper and a shot beyond the arc.
- The Eagles caught fire out of the break, scoring eight straight points, taking a slim three-point lead with 2:32 remaining in the quarter.
- Janae Walker, Adams and McMiller all scored in the final two minutes to help cut the Eagles lead down to one, but Georgia Southern went into the second quarter up, 18-17.
- Georgia Southern sank the first basket of the second period but a 7-0 run from the Scarlet Knights forced the Eagles to call a timeout with 7:58 to play and Rutgers in front, 24-20.
- Georgia Southern tied the game with two consecutive jumpers but a three-pointer from Lisa Thompson gave RU back the lead just before the quarter's halfway point.
- The Eagles then rattled off a 10-point run of their own to regain the 34-27 advantage into a Rutgers timeout at 4:19.
- The Scarlet Knights answered right back out of the stop, scoring nine straight thanks to two JoJo Lacey three-pointers.
- Georgia Southern scored six more to take the 40-36 advantage into the locker room.
- Lacey didn't miss a step, firing off a shot beyond the arc and a jumper, but the Eagles matched both buckets to keep it tight.
- From there on out, it was all Scarlet Knights in the third quarter. Rutgers shut the Eagles out with a 17-0 run over the last 7:20. Petticord and Adams each scored six points while the team forced 11 turnovers.
- Georgia Southern broke its drought with a jumper just before the nine-minute mark in the fourth, an 8:31 scoreless streak.
- Zachara Perkins joined the scoring with two free throws, but the Eagles added a three-pointer to bring the RU lead down to 10.
- The Scarlet Knights weren't fazed and went on another double-digit run, this one for 10 points over 2:35. McMiller scored four along with layups from Thompson, Lacey and Adams to put Rutgers up 70-50.
- Georgia Southern fought back with two more baskets, forcing Rutgers to take a timeout at 4:12, but the Scarlet Knights pulled away, thanks to another seven-point stretch.
- The Eagles added six more before the buzzer, but Rutgers still came out with the victory, 77-60.
Gallery: (11-30-2024) Rutgers vs. Georgia Southern
Knights Notes
- Kiyomi McMiller recorded her first career double-double with 25 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. The performance marked McMiller's fourth outing with 20+ points and her sixth straight contest in double figures.
- McMiller also added six assists, to near the triple-double, two shy of her season best.
- JoJo Lacey also tallied a double-double, the second of her career and first as a Scarlet Knight, thanks to a career-high 11 boards as well.
- Off the bench, Zachara Perkins quadrupled her previous high in rebounds, grabbing eight boards.
- Destiny Adams matched her career-high in steals with six swipes.
- Saturday's game marks the first time since Dec. 5, 2023, that two Scarlet Knights have recorded double-doubles (Adams & Kaylene Smikle).
- RU shot 43 percent (9-for-21) from beyond the arc, their best mark of the season.
- Rutgers outscored the Eagles 22-5 in the third quarter thanks to a 17-0 run. The five points also signifies the lowest for an opposing team in a quarter so far this campaign.
Volume Up
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will open the Big Ten season at Wisconsin on Sunday, Dec. 8. The match will take place at 3 p.m. ET at the Kohl Center and stream on B1G+.
Follow Along
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