Rutgers University
9-11,1-8Big Ten
Washington
16-4,6-3Big Ten
Women's Basketball Setback by No. 25/25 Washington
Jan 26 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball team (9-11, 1-8 B1G) fell to No. 25/25 Washington (16-4, 6-3) on Monday during its annual Play4Kay contest.
Imani Lester and Kaylah Ivey led the team with 14 points each, while Lauryn Swann added 11 points. Antonia Bates paced RU with seven rebounds as well.
How it Happened
- Washington got out to an early 5-0 lead, but Imani Lester broke up the run with a bucket. The Huskies added another layup before Rutgers used its first timeout at the 7:50 mark.
- Lauryn Swann added a jumper out of the break, but UW came back with a 9-2 run to stay up, 16-6. Faith Blackstone added points for the Scarlet Knights with a pair of free throws with 5:20 to play.
Splash!
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) January 26, 2026
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/eR8amv8Ybt#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/ETTXkwNPYW
- Washington netted four more points, but Lester matched the scoring with four of her own to end the quarter with an eight-point difference, 20-12.
- The Huskies began the second period with a three-point play followed by a layup and a shot from deep to stay up, 28-12.
- Antonia Bates broke up the scoring with a free throw, but the opponent got back to it on offense, hitting a three to force another RU timeout at 6:35, 31-13.
- Blackstone netted a contested layup after the pause, and Kaylah Ivey followed up with a jumper to lessen the gap. The opponent answered, however, with six consecutive points.
- With 1:30 remaining, Ivey hit a three-pointer at the top of the key, but UW ended the half with back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to take the 43-20 edge into the locker room.
- Bates got things going in the third quarter with a second chance layup, and Ivey followed up with a corner three. Deja Young recorded a big basket, but Washington responded with 11 points in a row to stay ahead, 56-27, with just over six to play.
DEJA 👏 YOUNG 👏
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) January 26, 2026
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/eR8amv8Ybt#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/RatJ7bS9nv
- After the 4:22 media timeout, Rutgers went off on an 8-2 stretch, ending with a three from Swann, as the Huskies called their first timeout with 1:19 to go, 58-36.
- Both teams recorded four points to end the third quarter with the opponent in front, 62-39.
- The teams stayed even through the start of the fourth quarter as well, both scoring layups.
- Swann cashed in on her second three of the day at 7:49 but UW added two shots at the line and a three before the 4:42 media timeout to stay in control, 69-44.
- Lester hit a layup after the break, but the Huskies responded with four points as the Scarlet Knights called another timeout with 3:09 on the clock.
- Both teams scored one final bucket, but Washington still came out on top, 76-48.
Knights Notes
- Imani Lester recorded 14 points, her 12th double digit scoring effort.
- With 14 points on Monday, Kaylah Ivey has reached double digits 10 times. She also hit two three-pointers. She has scored multiple deep shots in 14 outings this season.
- Ivey finished with four assists, her 13th outing leading the team in the statistic. She has also dished three or more dimes 13 times this season.
- Lauryn Swann tied her season high with 11 points. She has netted 10+ three times this season.
- Antonia Bates paced RU with seven rebounds. She had led Rutgers on the boards five times this campaign.
Next Up
Rutgers finish outs its three-game homestand against Oregon on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. for its Black Excellence and Community Day.
Volume Up
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