MADISON, Wisco. – The comeback for the Rutgers women's basketball team (5-4, 0-1 B1G) fell short in it's Big Ten opener at Wisconsin (8-2, 1-0 B1G), falling 66-64 on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a 13-point deficit in the beginning of the third quarter, the Scarlet Knights persevered and came back to tie the contest with just 26 seconds left, although it wasn't enough for the victory.
Destiny Adams led both teams on the floor with 23 points while Kiyomi McMiller also netted 20.
Chyna Cornwell stayed consistent off the boards, grabbing 11 rebounds to pace RU.
How it Happened
- Rutgers won the opening tip and Kiyomi McMiller quickly capitalized with a deep three-pointer. Chyna Cornwell followed up with a jumper to give RU an early 5-0 lead.
- Wisconsin answered with an 8-0 run to take a three-point lead, 8-5, at the quarter's halfway point. Adams got Rutgers back on the right track though, ending her team's drought with a jumper.
- The two teams went onto trade buckets, until Zachara Perkins hit a three just before the 2:01 media timeout to cut the Badgers lead, 15-11.
- UW hit one more shot to end the opening 10 minutes and take a 17-11 edge into the second period.
- Destiny Adams opened scoring in the second quarter with four consecutive points. McMiller added a pull up three to put the contest within one point, 19-18. Cornwell kept the run going with two free throws to put RU in front with just under seven minutes to play.
- Wisconsin came back with a three to go back up, but McMiller cashed in on a layup to even the score, 22-22.
- The Badgers once again responded, with five consecutive points before the 3:17 media timeout to get back in control, 27-22.
- Out of the break, Adams reached double digits (12 points) with consecutive baskets to once again make it a one-point game, 27-26. UW used its first timeout with 1:26 remaining in the half.
- Neither team scored in the remaining time and Wisconsin went into the locker room with the slim one-point advantage.
- Lisa Thompson and Adams got to the basket in the opening three minutes of the third quarter, but UW netted nine points to stay in front at the 7:03 RU timeout, 36-31.
- Following the stop, both teams kicked up the intensity on defense, with three held balls and three steals.
- The Badgers kept it going on offense however, outscoring RU 5-2 at the 4:44 media timeout stay on top, 41-33.
- UW continued to produce out of the stop, despite points from Perkins and McMiller, to keep the 49-38 lead with just over two minutes to go in the third period.
- The teams stayed even for the remainder of the span, keeping the 11-point gap going into the final 10 minutes, 53-42.
- McMiller got things going in the final quarter with a pull up jumper to bring her to 16 points. Adams and Cornwell added to the stretch to outscore Wisconsin 6-2, and lessen the deficit to 55-48, before the 6:39 timeout from RU.
- JoJo Lacey drew a foul and hit both free throws out of the stop to put the contest within five points, 55-50.
- Cornwell and Adams both hit big shots to continue to chip away at UW's lead, 55-54, at the period's halfway point.
- Both teams kept it close, matching buckets, but Adams was the difference. With two shots from the charity stripe, she put RU ahead just before a Wisconsin timeout with 3:30 left in regulation.
- After several free throws from both sides, Rutgers led 60-59, with 2:03 to play. Though Wisconsin soon went ahead, 64-62, with help from a 7-2 run to force a Rutgers' timeout.
- McMiller came up clutch after the pause with a reverse layup to once again even the score, 64-all.
- However, the Badgers ended the contest with two free throws to come out on top, 66-64.
Knights Notes
- Adams has reached double digit points in consecutive games and 20+ points in four outings this season.
- McMiller continues her streak of double-digit games, recording her seventh in a row at the Kohl Center. Five of those performances have been 20 or more points as well.
- The freshman also led the way with four assists and tops the squad with 27 total helpers.
- With 11 boards on Sunday, Cornwell has reached 10+ rebounds six times this season and paced the Scarlet Knights off the glass on seven occasions.
- RU held Wisconsin to 66 points, below its scoring average of 70.2 heading into the meeting, the fourth opponent in a row.
- Rutgers grabbed 11 steals to tie its season high. Adams led the way with four takeaways for the second consecutive contest.
- Rutgers only had eight turnovers against Wisconsin, its lowest game total of the season. The team also had nine giveaways against Georgia Southern (Nov. 30) for consecutive contests with less than 10 turns.
- The contest featured five lead changes and six ties.
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will get back to nonconference play for three games before fully diving into conference play with a four-game homestand. RU will welcome FDU (Dec. 11), Wagner (Dec. 15), Lafayette (Dec. 21) and Ohio State (Dec. 29).
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