Rutgers women’s basketball fell to No. 19 Ohio State, 71–49, on Saturday afternoon as the Buckeyes used a dominant middle stretch to pull away in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights showed early fight but struggled to keep pace once Ohio State found its rhythm on both ends of the floor.
Rutgers came out aggressively in the opening quarter, matching Ohio State’s physicality and pace. The Scarlet Knights moved the ball well early and attacked the basket, allowing them to stay neck-and-neck with the Buckeyes
early. RU was able to generate quality looks and briefly control the tempo, taking a 17-14 lead after the first quarter came to an end. Imani Lester led the way in the paint with eight first-quarter points.
The momentum shifted in the second quarter as Ohio State began to assert itself defensively. Rutgers struggled to find consistent offense as the Buckeyes tightened up on the perimeter and limited second-chance opportunities. Ohio State went on a decisive run midway through the quarter, capitalizing on transition opportunities and turning defensive stops into points. Rutgers managed just nine points in the period, and Ohio State carried a 31–26 lead into halftime after a late three from Kaylah Ivey.
Out of the break, Ohio State continued to build separation. The Buckeyes attacked inside and controlled the glass, forcing Rutgers to expend energy defensively while still searching for answers offensively. Although Rutgers showed flashes and briefly cut into the deficit, Ohio State responded each time with timely buckets. The Buckeyes built a double-digit lead for most of the latter half of the quarter, but the Knights cut it to 51-42 heading to Q4.
The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Ohio State, which outscored Rutgers 20-7 in the final period. The Scarlet Knights were unable to generate much offense against the suffocating Buckeyes’ defense, which allowed Ohio State to pull away with a decisive run of its own to push the margin of victory over twenty points.
Faith Blackstone led Rutgers offensively with 15 points after a tough shooting day against Wisconsin, while Imani Lester followed with 14 points, providing a spark early and battling inside throughout the game. Kaylah Ivey added eight points and energy on both ends, particularly in the first half. However, Nene Ndiaye was held to just six points, and Zachara Perkins had just two points after both were in double figures against the Badgers.
Ohio State showcased its depth and balance, led by the star guard duo of Jaloni Cambridge and Chance Gray, who led the Buckeyes with 18 and 17 points, respectively. OSU’s ability to spread the scoring load, dominate the glass, and defend without fouling proved to be the difference, as the Buckeyes finished with a significant rebounding advantage and controlled the game’s tempo after the first quarter.
The loss drops Rutgers to 0–4 in Big Ten play, highlighting the challenges of navigating one of the nation’s toughest conferences. While the Scarlet Knights showed competitiveness early, sustaining offensive efficiency and winning the rebounding battle remain key areas for improvement.
Rutgers will look to regroup quickly as conference play continues, with the focus shifting to the seventh-ranked Maryland Terrapins, who will visit Jersey Mike’s Arena on Thursday at 7 PM.
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