PISCATAWAY, N.J. — A strong fourth quarter lifted Rutgers women's basketball (2-0) over Cornell (1-1), 72-61, on Thursday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.
The tight contest featured nine lead changes and six ties but the Scarlet Knights finished strong, outscoring the Big Rd 25-9 in the fourth quarter to come out on top.
Destiny Adams led the charge for RU, recording her first double-double of the season with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Chyna Cornwell also had another strong outing with nine points and 11 rebounds while McMiller had a complete game with eight points, six rebounds and eight assists. In addition, JoJo Lacy ended the night with 11 tallies.
How it Happened
- Cornell cashed in on the first basket of the contest, but it wasn't long before Rutgers tied it up, as Destiny Adams hit an open layup off a great pass from Kiyomi McMiller.
- The Big Red extended their lead to seven, 9-2, just before the six-minute mark after a pair of buckets and a three-point play.
- Mya Petticord, Lisa Thompson and Chyna Cornwell got things back on track with a combined six points to make the score 9-8 at the 4:50 media timeout.
- RU immediately took the lead following the break, thanks to a floater from Thompson. Cornwell added on to make it a three-point difference, 12-9. However, just before the 3:30 mark, Cornell tied the score 12-all.
- Kiyomi McMiller put the Scarlet Knights back in control, 14-13, with a reverse layup, her first points of the night.
- The teams ended the first quarter knotted, 15-15.
- JoJo Lacey put an end to a 6-0 run for the Big Red with a shot from behind the arc. McMiller followed up with a field goal of her own to lessen the difference to three points, 23-20, at the media stoppage.
- Cornell hit a three out of the pause, but McMiller hit a long two followed by three buckets in a row from Adams to put the contest back within two points, 30-28.
- Lacey ended the opening half for RU with a pair of scores to tie it up once again before going into the locker room, 34-all.
- Adams kicked things off in the third period with a 5-0 run of her own to give her team the edge, 39-36.
- Cornell batted back to regain the lead just before the 4:18 media stop, 40-39.
- Both teams traded baskets to keep the score within one. Zachara Perkins recorded a big three-point play for RU followed by a jumper from Petticord to tie knot it up once again at 46.
- Before the end of the third, Cornell added six more points while Cornwell hit a free throw to keep RU behind, 52-47.
- Adams went on another 6-0 run of her own, to once again make it a one-point difference, 53-52.
- Cornell did not go quietly once again, extending its lead with a three-point play of their own, 55-53. However, RU battled back, going on a dominant 9-0 run to force a timeout from the opposition.
- Lacey continued the stretch with an and-one out of the break to give the Scarlet Knights their biggest advantage of the night with nine points, 64-55.
- The Big Red put an end to the ultimate 11-0 run with a 6-2 stretch of their own, but it was not enough. Adams took the game into her own hands once again, netting six points to secure the 72-61 victory.
Gallery: (11-7-2024) RU WBB vs. Cornell
Knights Notes
- Destiny Adams registered her third 30-point game as a Scarlet Knight, just three points shy of her career best. She also recorded the ninth career double-double, after leading the team in the statistic with eight last year.
- Adams also set her personal best with 14 made field goals and tied her personal best in blocks with three.
- Dating back to last season on Jan. 2, Adams has reached double digit points in 19 consecutive contests.
- JoJo Lacey has now reach 10+ points in back-to-back contests with 11 against the Big Red, including two shots from beyond the arc.
- Kiyomi McMiller stuffed the stat sheet recording eight points, six rebounds and eight assists in her first full game in Scarlet.
- McMiller's eight helpers ties the season-high from 2023-24 set by Antonia Bates versus Minnesota (Feb. 13).
- Chyna Cornwell impressed off the bench nearing a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. She has now reached 10+ boards in both games to start the campaign.
- Rutgers bested Cornell in blocks, 10-0. Thursday night was the first time Rutgers blocked 10+ shots since Delaware State (Nov. 29) last season.
- Despite a tight first three quarters, the Scarlet Knights outscored the Big Red, 25-9 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
- Rutgers is now 2-0 all-time against the Big Red.
- RU owned the advantage off the boards, 47-35, including a 16-7 edge on the offensive glass.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers will play the first four games of the 2024-25 season at home. Next up, RU will face NJIT at Jersey Mike's Arena on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m.
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