EAST LANSING, Mich. — Rutgers women's basketball (8-22, 2-15 B1G) was downed by --/RV Michigan State (20-7, 10-6 B1G), 93-57, on Saturday afternoon in the team's final road game of the regular season.
Erica Lafayette led Rutgers with a career-best 20 points, including four three-pointers.
Jillian Huerter (12) and
Destiny Adams (11) also reached double-figure scoring. Adams paced the team with nine rebounds and three steals.
How it Happened
- Destiny Adams got things going with a steal and a score on Rutgers' second possession of the game to take the first lead of the contest.
- Michigan State matched the points and more, as the opposition overtook the 8-4 edge three minutes into the contest.
- The Spartans added three more points to stretch their lead to seven. However, Adams added two shots from the line and Erica Lafayette recorded a three to bring it back to a two-point game, 11-9, at the 4:30 media timeout.
- Out of the break, Jillian Huerter hit a corner three but MSU responded with back-to-back shots from deep to extend their advantage once again. Lafayette followed up with her second three of the day, along with another from Michigan State, to cap a streak of five consecutive three-pointers between both teams.
- The Spartans ended the opening period with 10 unanswered points to come away with the 27-15 edge.
- MSU continued its run into the second quarter, netting eight more points to force a Scarlet Knights timeout with 8:41 to play.
- The opponent secured another three points before Huerter put an end to the run with another three to avoid a shot clock violation and make the score 38-18.
- Michigan State added five more points as RU used another timeout with 4:24 left in the half.
- Following the stop, Adams cashed in on a layup. After three more made baskets from MSU, Huerter netted her third three-pointer of the half to continue to chip away at the difference.
- Lafayette made the last bucket of the half, but MSU still went into the locker room in front, 51-27.
- MSU kicked off the third quarter with five quick layups to stay in front. The opponent added a three and Rutgers called its third timeout of the contest at the 7:44 mark.
- Out of the break, Lafayette and Huerter combined for five points as Michigan State continued to be aggressive on offense.
- Kassondra Brown recorded a three-point play before the end of the quarter as the Spartans went into the final 10 minutes up, 78-35.
- In the first four minutes of the fourth period, the Scarlet Knights outscored the Spartans 8-4, thanks to a pair of three's from Lafayette.
- Kennedy Brandt followed up with back-to-back baskets to add five points for RU and cut the gap, 82-48.
- From there, the two teams traded scores back and forth for the remainder of the contest. MSU ultimately came out on top, 93-57.
Knights Notes
- Lafayette ended the day with a career-high 20 points. The outing marks the second time in her career she has led the team in scoring and her second this season with 10+ points.
- Lafayette also cashed in on a career best four three-pointers, crushing her previous high of three she recorded against Wagner (Nov. 9).
- Rutgers combined for nine made threes on Saturday, tied for its second-highest performance of the season.
- Adams ended the contest with 11 points. She has now recorded double-digit points in the past 15 contests and 10+ points 25 times this season.
- Huerter also reached 10+ points with 12. She has now reached double figure scoring in seven contests this season. Huerter also made four three's against the Spartans, good for her second-high single game total this campaign.
- Brandt also saw the most minutes on the court this season, with just over 17. She recorded five points, including one three-pointer, in addition to a steal.
- Cornwell paced RU with four assists, a new career-high. She bests her previous two helpers against Michigan (Feb. 10).
- Everyone who touched the floor at MSU recorded at least one steal to total 10. This performance marks the eighth of the season with double digit takeaways.
- The Scarlet Knights secured 10 assists against the Spartans, the team's 21st outing of the season with 10 or more helpers.
- RU outscored MSU in the fourth quarter, 22-15.
Next Up
Rutgers will close the 2023-24 regular season against Northwestern on Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. The team will celebrate Senior Day as well as Thank You to Fans.
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