Rutgers University
8-4,0-1Big Ten
Lafayette
4-7,0-0Patriot
Washington and Blackstone Reach Milestones as Women's Basketball Defeats Lafayette
Dec 20 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball (8-4, 0-1 B1G) defeated Lafayette (4-7), 54-45, on Saturday afternoon.
There was a lot to celebrate at the Holiday Hoops game including Faith Blackstone clinching 1,000th Division I points and head coach Coquese Washington securing her 250th career win.
Faith for 1K 🪄#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/ubBaaK5Rqb
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 20, 2025
250 wins built on leadership, excellence, discipline and belief 👏
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 20, 2025
Congrats Coach 💯#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/BBvJyS8m6B
The Scarlet Knights bounced back from a slow start to either beat or tie the Leopards in the last 30 minutes. The contest featured three lead changes and three ties, but RU persevered to retain the lead for the majority of the contest and come out on top
Blackstone recorded her first double-double in Scarlet with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Nene Ndiaye also secured her second double-double of the campaign with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
How it Happened
- Lafayette got out to a 6-1 lead with just under eight minutes to play. The score remained the same at the 4:59 media timeout.
- The Leopards scored again at the 3:44 mark to extend their edge to seven.
- RU added a free throw and a breakaway layup, but the opposition netted their second three to take the 11-4 lead into the second period.
- Faith Blackstone opened the next 10 minutes with a pair of free throws and a three to knock down her 1,000th Division I point.
That is 1,000 points for Faith Blackstone ‼️👏
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 20, 2025
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/0m2SFSXqH0#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/sEZlOvawjr
- Nene Ndiaye followed up with a pair of layups to put RU in front, 13-11. However, the Leopards tied it up with two shots at the line with just over seven minutes to go.
- Blackstone added a jumper to avoid the shot clock violation, and put her team back in front 15-13, just before Lafayette called its first timeout with 4:37 to play.
- The opponent tied the contest once again out the stop and took the two-point advantage with back-to-back buckets.
- Blackstone cashed in on another three to kick off a 7-0 run for RU. The opponent responded with one more basket before halftime, but the Scarlet Knights still took the 22-20 lead into the locker room.
- Rutgers started off the third quarter on a 7-2 stretch, including five points from Nene Ndiaye.
Nene allll day 🤩
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 20, 2025
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/0m2SFSXqH0#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/hlPov3fdr3
- Lafayette hit a three with 7:33 to go and put the score within four points, 29-25.
- The teams went onto trade buckets before the 4:24 media timeout, but RU stayed on top, 33-27.
- Blackstone hit a free throw right after the pause to give her team the seven-point edge. She kept it going with a second chance layup to continue widening the gap.
- The Scarlet Knights brought the 36-27 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
- Nene Ndiaye began the final period with a layup to build on the Rutgers lead, increasing the gap to double digits, 38-27.
- The Leopards netted a pair of free throws, but Deja Young answered with a three. The opposition also came back with a deep shot to make the score 41-32 with 7:22 to go.
Been working all game, knew this one was coming 🤩
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 20, 2025
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/0m2SFSXqH0#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/TdgR2i6Z80
- Lafayette continued to go on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to four points and forced an RU timeout with 5:45 remaining.
- Imani Lester broke up the scoring with a layup immediately following the stop. Nene Ndiaye followed up with a three-point play just before the 4:58 media timeout, extending the advantage back, 45-37.
AND-1 😤
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 20, 2025
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/0m2SFSXqH0#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/iSlL9GQ6y4
- Lester and Blackstone came back to combine for five points between a pair of Lafayette field goals. Solid offense from the Scarlet Knights kept the team in front by 10 at a break at 3:31.
- The opposition hit another jumper out of the pause, but Blackstone matched it and more with her fourth three-pointer of the day.
- Lafayette added one more basket before the final buzzer as Rutgers came away with the 54-45 victory.
Knights Notes
- Nene Ndiaye finished with her second double-double of the season, recording 19 points and 10 rebounds.
- Faith Blackstone also secured her first double-double of the season with a season-best 22 points and career high 12 rebounds.
- Ndiaye and Blackstone are the first duo to secure double-doubles in the same game since Dec. 15, 2024.
- In her first start for RU, Blackstone netted four three-pointers, to tie her career high for the third time.
- Kaylah Ivey registered five assists, her third best total of the season. She has dished three or more helpers seven times this season, including five of the last six outings.
- Rutgers led Lafayette in rebounds, 54-33. The 54 boards ties a season best.
- RU also dominated on the offensive boards, 26-6, marking a season high.
- The Scarlet Knights brought in 14 steals to once again match a season high. Blackstone led the way with four takeaways.
- Rutgers forced 21 turnovers, their fourth performance forcing 20+.
- The team kept the Leopards to just nine points in the second and seven points in the third quarters, the eighth single digit periods by an opponent this slate.
Next Up
Rutgers will dive back into Big Ten play on Sunday, Dec. 28 at No. 24/23 Michigan State for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
Follow Along
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