RUTGERS 63 – NORTHWESTERN 59
Rutgers women’s basketball has some magic going on as the month of March begins. The ladies defeated Northwestern 63-59 in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament to advance to Thursday’s action. RU will face Illinois in the night cap of a long day of Big Ten Basketball with tip-off shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday.
Kaylene Smikle, as she has done all year, led the charge for the Scarlet Knights, tallying 26-points with 21 of those points coming in the first half. In fact Smikle nailed three three-point attempts in the second quarter as Rutgers built a 37-30 lead at the break. Smikle also became the All-Time leading freshman scorer for Rutgers women’s basketball.
Onward & Upward π€©#GoRU | #RUWBB | #B1GWBBall pic.twitter.com/ALsDTgEMTR
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) March 2, 2023
With the game tied at 53 late in the fourth quarter, Rutgers was spot on from the free throw line connecting on six of seven attempts from the charity stripe.
As a result Chyna Cornwell finished with 15 points, Awe Sidibe and Kai Carter both finished with 11-points. Rutgers shot 15-of-21 from the free throw line when the game was all said and done.
