Smikle Dominates as Rutgers Crushes Delaware State
Rutgers sophomore guard Kaylene Smikle set a new personal best by scoring 33 points against the Delaware State Hornets to send the Scarlet Knights to their fourth win of the young season. Rutgers improves to 4-5 and will host Lafayette on Friday night with a chance to get back to .500.
“She shot the three ball well,” Coach Coquese Washington said later. “As she has been coming back this season and getting her legs underneath her that’s probably the last thing to get going to get the three ball down. It adds an element for us.”
“It’s a great feeling to have a career high and help my team win the game,” Smikle added.
Rutgers trailed 9-2 in the early going of the contest before Smikle drained her first three of the day, a sign of big things to come fairly quickly.
After the two teams exchanged jump shots, Smikle drained a three-ball and hit a jump shot to pull Rutgers to within three-points, 15-12, with 3:07 to go in the first quarter.
However, it was in the second quarter where Rutgers truly dominated, outscoring Delaware State 25-7 in the frame.
Chyna Cornwell connected on three straight buckets to pull Rutgers to within a 22-all tie with 7:17 to go before halftime. Smikle joined the party draining three consecutive shots herself to pull Rutgers in front by six points. Cornwell her teammate with two more lay-ups to put Rutgers up 32-25.
After Delaware State’s Arianna Johnson answered a pair of Rutgers free throws with a layup of her own, Smikle quickly shut the door on any thoughts of a Delaware state comeback when she drilled a three at the arch to push Rutgers to a 10-point lead.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Smikle finished 13-of-20 from the field, including 5-of-9 from downtown. Destiny Adams contributed 19 points, and Chyna Cornwell added 12 points and 12 boards for a double-double. It was Chyna’s third double-double of the season.
