PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball (6-2) came out on top over Northeastern (3-5), 79-56, Friday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Nene Ndiaye led four Scarlet Knights in double figures with her first career double-double, recording 19 points and 10 rebounds. Imani Lester (16), Zachara Perkins (13) and Faith Blackstone (11) also reached 10+.
The Scarlet Knights took the lead from the first basket of the night and never looked back, building the lead up to as much as 26 points at the end of the third quarter.
How it Happened
- Rutgers got out to an early 4-0 lead with a pair of free throws and a second chance layup from Imani Lester. Northeastern added a bucket, but Nene Ndiaye kept the lead for her team with a three.
- Janae Walker added a basket with just over seven minutes to play, 9-2.
- The Huskies cashed in on their first three-pointer of the game to keep the four-point difference. Both teams recorded a jump shot before the 4:51 media timeout, 11-7.
- After the break Lester netted another contested layup while the opposition hit one free throw on the other end. Perkins contributed two shots at the line to make the score 15-8 with 3:21 to play.
- RU continued an 8-0 run with a three-point play from Faith Blackstone and a deep shot from Perkins.
- Northeastern ended the opening period with a layup to make the score 21-10.
- The opposition picked up where they left off with another layup to bring the gap down to single digits, 21-12.
- Nene Ndiaye answered with another three before each team added a layup.
- The Huskies came back with a shot from beyond the arc with just over six to play. However, Antonia Bates matched the points with a three-pointer of her own, 29-17.
- Nene Ndiaye and Blackstone continued the momentum for RU, each contributing three points before Northeastern used its first timeout at the quarter's exact halfway point, 35-17.
- Northeastern put an end to the 9-0 stretch with back-to-back scores, and the Scarlet Knights used their first timeout with 3:24 remaining and the score 35-22.
- Coming out of the break, Nene Ndiaye recorded the last six points of the second quarter for RU.
- The opponent hit one free throw before halftime, but Rutgers still went into the locker room with the 41-25 edge.
- The Huskies struck first in the third with a layup, but Nene Ndiaye quickly matched the points to keep the gap, 43-27.
- The teams continued to go back and forth, trading points. Blackstone gave the team a spark, with her second three-point play of the night.
- Both teams netted one more layup, including Yacine Ndiaye's first points of the night, before the 4:41 media timeout. RU remained in front, 52-33.
- Yacine Ndiaye capitalized on a second-chance layup out of the stop to kick start a big run for the Scarlet Knights, including back-to-back threes from Perkins and Bates.
- Perkins and Nene Ndiaye added more points before Northeastern cashed in the final shot of the period, but Rutgers remained in control, 65-41.
- The teams started off the final 10 minutes once again trading baskets to keep the 23-point difference. Lester strung together a 4-0 run on her own at the free throw line with just over six minutes to play.
- Bates built onto the stretch with a free throw, but Northeastern came back with consecutive jumpers before an RU timeout with 4:59 to play, 74-52.
- The Huskies kept going to put together a 5-0 run, but Perkins put an abrupt end to the drought with a contested layup, 76-53.
- The Scarlet Knight freshmen came out late in the game as Makylah Moore netted a layup off an opponent turnover and Precious Gem Wheeler added a free throw.
- Northeastern registered a three in the final moments, but Rutgers still came out on top, 79-56.
Gallery: (11-28-2025) RU WBB vs. Northeastern
Knights Notes
- Four Scarlet Knights reached double digit scoring for the second time this season.
- Nene Ndiaye recorded her first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
- The junior forward has reached double-digits in eight straight contests and 20+ three times. She paces RU with 17.5 points per game.
- Zachara Perkins netted 13 points and has now reached double digit points in all but one game this season, including 12+ points in the last four games.
- Imani Lester's 16 points marks her second highest total this season.
- Kaylah Ivey dished five assists, her third time this season with five or more helpers. She has led the team in the stat four times.
- Faith Blackstone made her second start for RU, netting a season best 11 points, six rebounds and two assists.
- Two Scarlet Knights were perfect from the free throw line in Lester (6-for-6) and Blackstone (4-for-4).
- Rutgers made 26 trips to the charity stripe compared to Northeastern's 10. RU is 5-1 when it has more free throw opportunities than the opponent.
- The Scarlet Knights caused 20 turnovers for the second consecutive contest, which turned into 22 points.
- Rutgers beat Siena off the glass, 43-28. RU is 6-0 when it owns the advantage on the boards.
- The Scarlet Knights brought down 20 offensive rebounds, their second outing with 20+ boards off the offensive glass.
- RU hit seven three-pointers for the third time this campaign to tie their season high. Nene Ndiaye, Perkins and Antonia Bates all made two each.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers will finish Thanksgiving weekend against Saint Peter's Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. The contest is presented by the Rutgers Business School and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
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