Rutgers University
8-9,0-6Big Ten
Northwestern
7-10,1-5Big Ten
Women's Basketball Setback at Northwestern
Jan 11 | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Despite starting with the first quarter lead, the Rutgers women's basketball team (8-9, 0-6 B1G) couldn't get the win over Northwestern (7-10, 1-5 B1G) on the road Sunday, falling 73-54.
Lauryn Swann (11) and Faith Blackstone (11) led the Scarlet Knights with 11 points each while Nene Ndiaye (10) and Zachara Perkins (10) followed closely behind with 10 points, respectively.
Antonia Bates paced RU with nine rebounds, as well.
How it Happened
- Faith Blackstone netted back-to-back layups to get Rutgers on the board early. Nene Ndiaye followed up with a pair of free throws to extend the Scarlet Knights's 6-0 lead.
- Northwestern came back to net four points in a row, but Imani Lester landed a three to keep the gap, 9-4.
- The Wildcats converted on a layup, but Zachara Perkins answered with two put ups to keep RU ahead, 13-6, at the quarter halfway point.
- NU recorded two more layups before the 4:25 media timeout to put the contest within three points, 13-10.
- Perkins and Kaylah Ivey hit shots out of the stop, but Northwestern came back with a 6-0 run to make it 17-13. Nene Ndiaye hit two more free throws, but the Wildcats netted the last basket of the period to make it a four-point difference, 19-15.
- NU cashed in on a free throw to begin the second quarter, but Perkins did one better with a layup. The opposition hit two more layups, but Lauryn Swann responded with five points to keep Rutgers on top, 26-20.
- However, Northwestern came back with five unanswered points to reduce the gap to two points, 26-24.
- Both teams added threes, but NU hit a jumper just before the 4:44 media timeout to tie the contest, 29-all.
- The Wildcats took their first lead of the day with two shots from the line followed by a layup, to go up 33-29. The opposition continued on a 13-0 run as RU called a timeout with 2:18 to go.
- Perkins put an end to the stretch with a bucket, but the opponent matched the score before halftime to keep the 39-31 edge.
- Both teams started the third quarter with a pair of free throws to stay eight points apart. Northwestern came back strong on offense though, recording three consecutive field goals to stay ahead, 47-33, as the Scarlet Knights called a timeout with 7:18 to play.
- Blackstone hit three shots at the charity stripe before a NU timeout at 5:47 to close the gap to 11 points, 47-36. Following the stop, Blackstone added another free throw to continue to chip away.
- Neither team scored again until the Wildcats netted a layup at the 3:20 mark. The opponent followed up with two free throws nearly a minute later to extend the advantage, 52-37.
- The teams traded baskets to end the quarter, but Northwestern stayed ahead, 57-41.
- Swann made a deep two to kick off the final 10 minutes, but the Wildcats matched the points with free throws.
- The teams continued to trade free throws, but NU responded with four consecutive points with just over six minutes to play, 65-45.
- The Wildcats cashed in on a layup and Rutgers a free throw before the 4:05 media timeout, 67-48.
- Blackstone contributed three points to battle another four from the opposition.
- Both teams ended with free throws, but Northwestern came out with the 73-54 victory.
Knights Notes
- Nene Ndiaye netted 10 points against Northwestern, her 15th performance with double-digits this season.
- Swann's 11 points mark her first outing with 10+ points as a Scarlet Knight. Perkins has accomplished the feat 10 times and Blackstone now on five occasions this slate.
- Swann hit three shots from beyond the arc, her most this season. She has netted at least one three-pointer in three of four games she has been available for this campaign.
- Antonia Bates paced RU with nine rebounds, one shy of her season high and her second game in a row topping the team.
- Sunday's performance marks the sixth time this campaign four Scarlet Knights have reached 10+ points.
Next Up
Rutgers will stay out on the road as the team travels to Penn State on Sunday, Jan. 18 for a 1 p.m. tilt.
Follow Along
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