PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball (3-1) held on to defeat Rhode Island (3-1), 68-63, at Jersey Mike's Arena on Thursday morning for Recess Day.
Nene Ndiaye recorded a career high 24 points while Kaylah Ivey (13) and Zachara Perkins (12) also reached double figures.
The Scarlet Knights bested the Rams off the boards, out-rebounding the opposition 40-27. Janae Walker recorded a career best 10 rebounds while Antonia Bates grabbed seven boards.
How it Happened
- Rutgers got out to a 4-0 lead with baskets from Nene Ndiaye and Zachara Perkins.
- The teams went on going bucket-for-bucket, but RU retained a two-point lead.
- Rhode Island made it a one-point game, 8-7, with a three-point play, however, with 5:55 to play in the first.
- Kaylah Ivey got the rebound on the next possession and hit a huge three to put the team up 11-7, just before RU forced a shot clock violation at the 4:47 media timeout.
- After the break Nene Ndiaye drew a foul and hit both shots at the line, but URI matched the points to keep the four-point gap.
- Antonia Bates added a free throw, but the Rams answered with a jumper to make the score 14-11. Both teams added a bucket to keep the difference the same, 18-13.
- Imani Lester and Perkins came together to end the first quarter on a 6-0 run to go up 21-13.
- Both teams traded baskets once again to start the second period, but URI hit two threes in the stretch to put the score back within six points, 26-20. The Scarlet Knights called their first timeout with 7:54 to play.
- Out of the stop, the Rams cashed in on another three-point play to cut the deficit to just three points, 26-23.
- Lester stretched the lead back out to five points, but it didn't last long as the opposition hit another three to make it a two-point game at the quarter halfway point.
- Janae Walker added a layup, but URI came back with three free throws to bring it back to a one-point game, 30-29, with just over two minutes to play.
- Rutgers ended the opening half with eight consecutive points, including threes from Nene Ndiaye and Ivey, to put RU in front 40-31 going into the locker room.
- URI started out the third with three points, but Nene Ndiaye came back with five points of her own to keep the lead, 45-36.
- Bates and Perkins contributed layups, but Rhode Island netted four of their own to bring the difference back to single digits at the 4:01 media timeout, 49-41.
- The Rams continued to go on a 6-0 run and cut the gap to four points, 49-45. RU used its second timeout with 2:42 remaining in the third.
- Following the stop, Perkins, Bates and Ivey combined for six points to take back a 10-point edge, 55-45.
- Rhode Island put in two free throws right before the end of the third to make it 55-48 going into the final 10 minutes.
- Both teams netted layups to start the final quarter and keep the distance, 56-50.
- Neither team scored again until URI hit a turnout jumper at the 5:49 mark. But Perkins pushed the lead back with a clutch three-point play.
- The Rams responded with a layup before the 4:22 media timeout, 59-54.
- Walker hit the first shot out of the break with a second chance layup to put her team ahead, 61-54.
- URI recorded a layup, but Lester added a point from the charity stripe to keep it six apart. With a three, the opponent made it a three-point game with under just over a minute to go.
- However, Walker hit a clutch reverse layup with 39 seconds remaining to force a Rhode Island timeout, 64-59.
- URI recorded free throws with 25 seconds to play, but Nene Ndiaye had the ultimate comeback with an electric three-point play with just 15 seconds remaining to force URI to use a timeout, 67-60.
- Both teams went back and forth contributing free throws and calling timeouts in the final moments, but it was ultimately who came out on top with the 68-63 victory.
Gallery: (11-13-2025) WBB vs. URI
Knights Notes
- Nene Ndiaye reached double-digits for the fourth straight contest with a career best 24, more than her previous high which she set against Quinnipiac (Nov. 6). She paces RU with 18. 3 points per game.
- Ndiaye also made three three-pointers against URI, another career high.
- Kaylah Ivey and Zachara Perkins have now reached 10+ points in three of four games.
- Ivey recorded two shots from deep against the Rams and has multiple threes in all four contests this season.
- In addition, Ivey broke the 500-point threshold on Thursday and now stands with 505 points.
- Janae Walker started her third consecutive game for the Scarlet Knights, playing a career best 32 minutes.
- Rutgers shot a season-high 47.1 percent from the field.
- RU dished out 11 assists, the third time this season the team has ended with 10+ helpers.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers will finish its five-game homestand against FDU on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
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