PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women's basketball team (8-12, 0-9 B1G) overcame a 17-point deficit to get its first Big Ten win of the season over Penn State (10-10, 1-8 B1G), 77-73, on Sunday afternoon.
Kiyomi McMiller and Destiny Adams led scoring for the Scarlet Knights with 15 points each. JoJo Lacey also netted 14 points while Mya Petticord added a season best 12 points.
A huge 25-point effort in the fourth quarter led RU back from a 12-point deficit entering the final 10 minutes. A 17-3 run to end the game, including two big threes from McMiller, also helped propel RU to victory.
How it Happened
- Penn State opened up scoring with a quick three-point-play. Rutgers answered on offense however, bringing in two offensive rebounds to keep the possession going for a Kiyomi McMiller bucket.
- Both teams traded points in the following minutes, but the Nittany Lions put together a 9-2 run to force a Scarlet Knights' timeout with 5:35 to go in the opening quarter with PSU in front, 15-8.
- Out of the break, JoJo Lacey hit her first three of the day, but Penn State came right back with a three ball of their own. However, Rutgers didn't stop there as Mya Petticord and Lacey recorded consecutive deep balls to put the score within three, 20-17. Lacey was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep in the first quarter.
- The Nittany Lions added consecutive shots from beyond the arc of their own, with four points from Destiny Adams mixed in. PSU ended the first 10 minutes ahead, 28-21.
- The Scarlet Knights started the second quarter off with a 4-0 stretch thanks to baskets from McMiller and Adams, to put the score within three, 28-25.
- Penn State recorded their first points of the period with a free throw at the 7:19 mark.
- Janae Walker came on the court and made an immediate impact, forcing a turnover, drawing a foul and cashing in on a layup. Her score put the game back within three points, 30-27.
- PSU recorded its first field goal of the quarter at 6:03, as the opposition secured another three-point-play. They followed up with another three ball to extend their lead with just under five minutes to go, 36-27.
- Petticord netted a jumper, but the Nittany Lions added a pair of layups to keep the 40-29 edge heading into the 4:01 media timeout.
- Following the pause, Walker hit her second bucket of the day. PSU answered after two minutes of play, with five points. Each team scored one more basket before the end of period, but Penn State went into the locker room with the 47-33 advantage.
- RU got the third quarter going with a bang, as McMiller and Awa Sidibe hit back-to-back three-point-plays. The scores put the game back within single digits, 47-39.
- The Nittany Lions mixed in a three but Adams and Zachara Perkins both added points to force a PSU timeout at the 7:13 mark, 50-43.
- Penn State netted the first bucket after the stop at 6:15. The teams went basket-for-basket in the following moments, but the home team added a three just before the 4:40 media timeout to extend the lead back to double figures, 57-45.
- Chyna Cornwell netted a second chance layup out of the break, but the Nittany Lions offense got to work with a 7-0 run to force a second Rutgers timeout and stay in control, 64-47.
- Petticord put an end to the spurt with two free throws and a deep three for five consecutive points to end the period. PSU entered the final 10 minutes up, 64-52.
- Lacey started the final quarter with her fourth three-pointer of the day, followed by a PSU layup. The opponent held onto the 66-55 edge at the 8:07 media timeout.
- Rutgers doubled Penn State in the opening minutes, outscoring them 8-4, including four points from Adams to put the score within eight points.
- The Scarlet Knights continued the momentum with a 7-0 run, including a clutch step back three from McMiller to lessen the difference to just three points, 70-67.
- Sidibe scored off an Adams' steal to put the game within one point. Adams followed up with a free throw to tie the contest up, 70-all, with 2:15 remaining.
- With 1:08 to go in regulation, McMiller hit yet another big three to give RU its first lead of the contest, 73-70.
- Over the final minute of play, McMiller and Lacey added two shots each from the charity stripe to cap a 17-0 run for the comeback.
- The Nittany Lions added three free throws as time expired, but the Scarlet Knights still came out on top for their first conference win of the slate, 77-73.
Knights Notes
- With 15 points, Adams has now reached double digits points in 18 games this season and the last nine in a row.
- Kiyomi McMiller collected her 16th game this season with double-digit points after scoring 15 against the Nittany Lions.
- McMiller also tallied four assists to lead the team in the stat for the 11th time this slate.
- Petticord's 12 points marks the second time with season she has netted 10+, to mark her season best. The junior also cashed in on two deep balls, her seventh outing of the campaign with multiple threes.
- JoJo Lacey stayed consistent beyond the arc, hitting four threes on Sunday. She has now hit two or more shots from deep in nine contests.
- Lacey also grabbed a season-high five steals. Rutgers secured 13 total takeaways to Penn State's 12.
- Chyna Cornwell (9) and Janae Walker (8) led the team off the boards. Both also paced the squad with four offensive rebounds each.
- Walker's eight rebounds signifies her career best and her six points tied her career high.
- RU won the fourth quarter, outscoring PSU by 21 points. They won the final 10 minutes 25-9.
- Rutgers outscored Penn State in both second chance points (16-5) and fast break points (18-14).
Looking Ahead
RU will end the month of January at home against Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 30 with a 7 p.m. contest. The contest is presented by the Rutgers Business School.
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