Rutgers women's basketball falls short in loss to Purdue
The Rutgers women’s basketball team’s late push against Purdue on Tuesday fell flat as the Scarlet Knights (6-10, 0-3) lost 77-76 to the Boilermakers (9-5, 2-1). Rutgers is now on a five-game skid that has lasted since Dec. 9, 2023.
The game was neck-and-neck approximately halfway through the first quarter.
The Knights took a 10-8 lead after a successful layup by junior guard and forward Destiny Adams at the 4:59 mark.
After Adams' layup, Purdue went on a 16-4 run to take a 24-14 lead heading into the second quarter. Rutgers chipped at the lead throughout the second quarter and, at one point, trailed the Boilermakers by only 2 points.
With the first half winding down, freshman guard Jillian Huerter hit a three-pointer to cut the Knights' deficit to 3 points. Rutgers trailed Purdue 34-31 when the second quarter buzzer sounded.
Both teams drilled their first two shots coming out of halftime. Another three from Huerter at the 7:56 mark of the third quarter made the score 41-38 in the Boilermakers favor.
Purdue led by 13 after a layup from Rashunda Jones extended her team’s lead to 62-49 at the 1:44 mark of the third quarter. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Knights trailed the Boilermakers by 8 points.
Rutgers trailed by 6 points near the beginning of the fourth quarter, but 6 straight points from Purdue gave it a 12-point lead at the 7:48 mark.
It seemed like the Boilermakers were in full control of the game until a made jumper from freshman guard Lisa Thompson with 5:37 to go in the final quarter sparked what would become a 12-3 run to end the game.
With 35 seconds remaining in the contest, sophomore guard Mya Petticord hit a jumper of her own, and Huerter continued the Knights momentum with a steal half a minute later. After the steal, the ball found the hands of Adams, who, with the clock winding down, could not get her layup to go. Purdue was able to hang on for the 1-point victory.
Adams led Rutgers with a double-double, scoring 23 points and corralling 13 rebounds. Huerter and Thompson each scored 16 in more than 29 minutes of action. Petticord followed behind with a 14-point performance. Madison Layden led the Boilermakers with 19 points.
Most notably, sophomore guards Kaylene Smikle and Antonia Bates did not see any playing time against Purdue.
Head coach Coquese Washington will hope to have the two sophomores back when the Knights face Caitlin Clark and Iowa on Friday at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Livingston campus. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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