PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball (8-4, 0-1 B1G) defeated Lafayette (3-8), 72-65, at Jersey Mike's Arena on Saturday afternoon. Kiyomi McMiller's career day and the long-awaited return of Awa Sidibe highlighted the win for the Scarlet Knights.
McMiller netted a career best 31 points, going 12-for-25 from the field (48 percent) and recording another career high with five three-pointers. In addition, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week recorded five rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes.
In her first game in 660 days, Sidibe brought a spark off the bench to both ends of the floor earning six points, five rebounds and two steals.
Chyna Cornwell and JoJo Lacey each scored 12 points in the win as well.
Rutgers 26-point third quarter led the way for the 15-point comeback win, both the largest of the season.
How it Happened
- Lafayette grabbed the first points of the contest, but Kiyomi McMiller quickly answered with a shot beyond the arc.
- The Leopards caught fire after that scoring 11 straight, but after a Rutgers timeout at 5:47, Chyna Cornwell got RU back on the board with a layup.
- JoJo Lacey and McMiller traded baskets with Lafayette the rest of the quarter, and the two teams finished the first 10 minutes with the Leopards up, 19-12.
- Lafayette came out of the break hot, going on another eight-point stretch to take the 15-point lead, their biggest of the game.
- After that however, it was all Scarlet Knights. Mya Petticord's long three ended the Leopard run and McMiller added six straight points to force a Lafayette timeout with just over four minutes remaining.
- The Leopards ended their 3:16 scoring drought with two made shots out of the pause, but RU ended the quarter with six consecutive points from Zachara Perkins, Cornwell and McMiller. The two teams headed to the locker room with the Leopards holding a 33-27 lead.
- Lafayette came out of the locker room and scored first, but RU dominated after that. McMiller's two jumpers, along with a basket from Petticord, made it a three-point game. Cornwell then contributed two free throws to bring the score within one, forcing a Leopard timeout at 6:51.
- Out of the break Awa Sidibe scored her first points of the season to cap off a 10-0 run for RU and give the team its first lead since 9:16 in the first quarter.
- Lafayette then ended its 3:26 scoreless streak with a shot beyond the arc but McMiller answered right away with her own three-pointer and a fair of free throws right before the 4:34 media timeout. RU stayed in front, 42-39.
- Lafayette kept fighting though, sinking big deep balls, mixed in with Scarlet Knight scores, to get back in front with a five-point lead and 1:30 remaining.
- Petticord and Lacey both had the answer however, nailing three-pointers of their own. Petticord also added a free throw and Lafayette scored once more as the third quarter came to an end, 53-all.
- Cornwell started the scoring in the fourth, taking the lead with a layup in the paint, but another Leopard three-pointer and layup changed the advantage once more.
- McMiller chimed in, sinking a shot from beyond the arc to tie the game right before a media timeout at 8:17. Cornwell then gave the Scarlet Knights the lead again with a layup.
- Lafayette did not go quietly however as the opposition sank two more three-point shots to go up by four points with 5:25 remaining.
- The Scarlet Knights battled back, as the team ended the game on a 12-1 run thanks to another McMiller three-pointer, five points from Lacey and two more buckets from Sidibe. RU ultimately came out on top to take the thrilling decision, 72-65.
Gallery: (12-21-2024) Rutgers WBB vs. Lafayette
Knights Notes
- Kiyomi McMiller's 31 points bests her previous career high by one, which she set against FDU (Dec. 11). She has now hit 30+ points twice this season.
- McMiller also drained five three-pointers, she had previously hit four at Virginia Tech (Nov. 19) and three deep balls on four occasions. She paces RU with 26 threes.
- Awa Sidibe scored her first points of the season, with six off the bench. The points mark her first since the 2023 Big Ten Tournament on March 2nd, 2023.
- JoJo Lacey tied her career best with six assists against the Leopards. With 12 points, she has now reached double figures six times this campaign.
- Zachara Perkins' two steals on Saturday signify a career best.
- The 15-point comeback is the biggest of the season for Rutgers.
- RU scored 26-points in the third quarter, their most in the third quarter this year and tied for second for most in any quarter.
- Rutgers outrebounded the Leopards, 36-31, including a 13-7 edge on the offensive glass.
- The Scarlet Knights held the advantage in blocks (5-1), and steals (7-3).
- Saturday's contest featured 11 lead changes and three tied scores.
- Rutgers maintains a perfect record against Lafayette, now 3-0 all time.
Volume Up
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will end its four game homestand after the holidays against Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.
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