Rutgers women’s basketball fell on the road to Auburn 51-46 despite outscoring the Tigers 17-12 in the final quarter of play. The Scarlet Knights would dig themselves into several double-digit holes that
ultimately proved to be too much to overcome.
Rutgers opened the scoring with a three-point shot by Zachara Perkins. The Knights would keep the momentum through the first five minutes of play, leading 7-6. Both teams had a scoring drought of two and a half minutes near the end of the first quarter, with Rutgers being able to hold the lead heading into the second.
The Knights held the Tigers scoreless for the first 3 minutes of the second quarter, as Rutgers continued to extend their lead. However, the script would flip later in the quarter, with Auburn keeping the Knights scoreless for over four and a half minutes to go into the half with a 23-21 lead.
Rutgers would not score again until there was 1:39 left in the third quarter. By then, the Tigers built a 37-23 lead. The Knights’ offense would find some life late in the third and would go on a 6-2 run to cut Auburn’s lead to 10.
Despite falling behind by double digits, Rutgers would claw its way back in the fourth quarter. After a missed three-pointer by Auburn’s A’riel Jackson, the Knights found themselves down by three with the ball and 49 seconds left on the clock. Rutgers Kaylah Ivey would miss a three-point shot to tie the game before Janae Walker was called for a foul on the rebound. Former Knight Mya Petticord would hit a two-pointer before Nene Ndiaye would hit two free throws to pull Rutgers back within three. The Knights would then draw a foul, trying to get the ball back, but it would be the made free throws from the Tigers’ Kaitlyn Duhon that would seal Rutgers’ fate.
The offensive struggles that plagued Rutgers during this game are the main culprit for their loss. The Knights shot 29 percent from the floor and 20 percent from three, while going 15 of 23 from the foul line. Auburn was much better than Rutgers from the field, where it hit on 36 percent of its shots, but was much worse from three, hitting only 9 percent of its shots. The Tigers were perfect from the foul line as well, hitting all 12 of their attempts.
The Knights will need to better coordinate their offense to compete in Big Ten play. They showed in this game that they can make the plays they need to on defense, but the offense has to show more consistency to have success going forward.
Rutgers women’s basketball will be back in action on Monday as they return home to face Siena at 7 pm. Live coverage for that game will be available on the Big Ten Network.
