PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women's basketball team (10-16, 2-13 B1G) was defeated by Northwestern (9-15, 1-11 B1G), 69-59, at Jersey Mike's Arena on Monday night.
Awa Sidibe scored a season-high 16 points along with nine rebounds, one off her career high. Zachara Perkins recorded a career-high three blocks on the day, surpassing her previous total of two she did six times this campaign.
Meanwhile off the bench, Chyna Cornwell grabbed 13 rebounds, her ninth game of the season with 10+ boards.
How it Happened
- After Northwestern grabbed the first points of the day, Awa Sidibe put RU on the board with a jumper. The Wildcats got hot early, going on an eight-point run, but a JoJo Lacey layup helped stop the bleeding.
- Destiny Adams hit a jumper, and Lacey drained a three-pointer while trading baskets with NU. The Wildcats led 14-9 with three minutes remaining.
- Out of the break, Northwestern went on another run, this one for seven points.
- Chyna Cornwell made a free throw and Sidibe added another score, but NU added four more before the quarter ended to keep the 25-12 edge.
- Northwestern scored first once again to kick off action in the second period, but Adams quickly answered with layup in the paint.
- NU then made a three-point shot but Adams answered once again, draining two free throws and another layup to keep the game withing striking distance.
- Sidibe then joined in, canceling out two NU scores with two baskets of her own.
- With 5:26 remaining in the quarter, the Scarlet Knights rattled off a 7-0 run to make it a 33-28 game in Northwestern's favor.
- The Wildcats came back, adding four more points as the half came to a close with the opposition in front, 37-28.
- Zachara Perkins stuck first in the third quarter, but Northwestern then tacked on with three straight free throws.
- Lisa Thompson joined in, sinking two free throws and Lacey added another score, but NU answered both scores with six minutes to go.
- After that, the Scarlet Knights picked up some ground with Sidibe, Lacey and Thompson all netting baskets, NU up, 46-39.
- Both teams then traded baskets for the rest of the quarter with Sidibe doing the damage for RU but the Wildcats remained in control by eight, 52-44.
- After Northwestern made a shot from deep to start the fourth quarter, Cornwell sank two straight layups and Perkins drained a huge three-pointer, to bring the game within four, 55-51.
- Adams then canceled out an NU score with two shots at the charity stripe with 4:41 remaining.
- The Wildcats pulled away with six straight and forced an RU timeout at 2:48 remaining. However, the Scarlet Knights kept fighting, with Cornwell, Adams and Lacey all adding scores, and cutting the deficit back down to five.
- Northwestern ended the contest with five consecutive free throws to take home the 69-59 victory.
Gallery: (2-17-2025) WBB vs. Northwestern
Knights Notes
- Awa Sidibe recorded 16 points, her most in a game this season. The total was also 18 points shy of her career best of 18, which she scored in 2022 against N.C. Central.
- Zachara Perkins blocked three shots on the night, her career high. She leads RU with 25 denials.
- Destiny Adams recorded 25 points, her 22nd game of the season with double digits.
- JoJo Lacey also ended with 11 points against the Wildcats, her 13th outing of the slate with 10 or more points.
- Chyna Cornwell ended Monday night with 13 rebounds, her ninth time this season leading the team in the statistic.
- Rutgers won the battle of the boards, 47-43.
- The Scarlet Knights won both the second (16-12) and third (16-15) quarters.
Volume Up
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will embark on its west coast trip, traveling to take on Washington (Feb. 20) and Oregon (Feb. 23).
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