Rutgers Valiant Comeback Falls Short at Northwestern
Northwestern 68 – Rutgers 63 Trailing by as many as 15 points with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Rutgers women’s basketball put together a furious come-from-behind attempt, getting…
Osh Brown, tries to set up a play while guarded by two Northwestern defenders. Photo: Rutgers Athletics.
Northwestern 68 - Rutgers 63
Trailing by as many as 15 points with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Rutgers women's basketball put together a furious come-from-behind attempt, getting as close as one point late in the fourth quarter, but ultimately falling 68-63 to Northwestern.
Osh Brown had a huge night for Rutgers. She led the team with 22 points and 16 rebounds, and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. 10 of those points came during Rutgers huge comeback.
The turning point of the game came when Joiya Maddox connected on a pair of huge buckets late in the third quarter. First she nailed a jumpshot on the fastbreak to cut the deficit to 13. Then a minute later, she nailed a three-pointer with 3:54 to go to cut the deficit to 46-36.
Brown started to take over the game at this point. She connected on a lay-up and free-throw for a three-point play with 2:06 to go in the third quarter that cut the Northwestern lead to single digits. At the end of the quarter, Brown nailed a jumpshot as time expired to bring Rutgers to within seven points.
Northwestern was able to push their lead back out to 10-points when Veronica Burton hits a free-throw with six minutes and change to go in regulation.
Osh Brown responded with another a bucket and foul shot that trimmed the deficit back to seven, 60-53, with 6:14 to go.
A little later, Maddox and Lasha Petree drained a pair of three's to bring Rutgers to within four, 63-59, with 3:23 to go. Maddox would drill another three-ball with 1:34 to, and connect on a free throw that brought Rutgers to within one-point of the lead, 64-63, but that was as close as Rutgers would get.
A huge jumper by Northwestern's Melannie Daley eased things down for the Wildcats as they regained a three-point lead, and would cruise to victory.
Maddox finished the night with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting; Lasha Petree had 11-points on 3-of-6 shooting, all from beyond the arc.
Rutgers (7-11) hosts Wisconsin on January 16 from Jersey Mike's Arena.
