Smikle Hits Personal Best 26 Points, RU falls to Princeton
PRINCETON 77 – RUTGERS 56 Kaylene Smikle had a career night for the Scarlet Knights, Thursday, netting 26 points and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, but it…
Kaylene Smikle enjoyed a career night, but Rutgers lost 77-56 to Princeton. Photo: Rutgers Athletics.
PRINCETON 77 - RUTGERS 56
Kaylene Smikle had a career night for the Scarlet Knights, Thursday, netting 26 points and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, but it wasn't enough as Princeton slipped past RU 77-56 from Jersey Mike's Arena.
Rutgers jumped out to a 10-point halftime lead, but couldn't slow down Princeton in the second half. The Tigers roared back thanks to a 17-0 run in third quarter and never looked back.
Smikle had a couple of big layups early that assisted Rutgers in building a 10-4 lead. She also nailed a huge three pointer at the 4:46 mark of the second quarter that put RU up 29-15. Antonia Bates three-pointer with 31 seconds to go in the first half put Rutgers up 32-22.
Smikle is the only Scarlet Knight to reach 20+ this season, accomplishing the feat five times off the bench. In addition Thursday's 26 points, she also netted 22 at Illinois (Dec. 7), 22 points against South Dakota State (Nov. 20), 23 against Cornell (Nov. 27) and 21 against Ohio State (Dec. 4).
Rutgers returns to the floor Sunday against New Orleans at 2 p.m.
