Tag: Melannie Daley

Rutgers women’s basketball finishes season with matchup against Northwestern

Rutgers women’s basketball is hoping to close out the Big Ten regular season with a win.

On Sunday afternoon, the Big Ten regular season will come to an end for Rutgers women’s basketball with a matchup against Northwestern. Rutgers will be looking to end the regular season with a win after losing three straight. Against a Northwestern team that has struggled on the road, Rutgers is in a good position.

As Rutgers looks to secure their ninth win of the season, they will need a big game from Destiny Adams. The Lakehurst native is averaging 15.2 points per game this season. Against Michigan State on February 24, Adams scored 11 points and recorded nine rebounds.

In this matchup, Rutgers will be tasked with stopping Melannie Daley. The talented junior is averaging a team-high 12.8 points per game. In February, she was a points machine, scoring at least 10 points in four games.

 

 

While limiting Daley will be a priority, playing a complete game will be essential for Rutgers. They have shown a tendency to struggle offensively for long periods, allowing their opponents to build double-digit leads. If that trend continues, it could be fatal against a motivated Northwestern team.

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However, Rutgers does have one advantage. Northwestern has struggled on the road this season with a 2-9 record. At home, Rutgers has gone 7-10 and been much more competitive regardless of the opponent.

Rutgers women’s basketball falls to Northwestern

Rutgers women’s basketball loses narrowly to Northwestern.

On Saturday, Rutgers women’s basketball lost its 2023 finale to Northwestern 77-70 at Welsh Ryan Arena. After a dominating first quarter, the Scarlet Knights were unable to build on their momentum and collapsed in the fourth quarter.

In their first matchup of the season against the Wildcats, Rutgers had no answer for Calleigh Warren. The New Jersey native scored 22 points and added two rebounds to her resume. Warren also had some help in the form of Melanie Daley, who put 20 points on the board.

For Rutgers, Lisa Thompson led the way offensively with 17 points. Kassondra Brown also had a big night, scoring 17 points. It was the fifth straight game in which the Abington native scored double digits.

 

Additionally, Rutgers was unable to take care of the basketball in their third straight loss. The Scarlet Knights committed 19 turnovers, which resulted in 24 points. They also made it hard to gain momentum by committing 19 fouls.

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While Saturday did not go as planned for Rutgers, they nearly recorded their seventh win of the season. However, they were unable to contain Northwestern’s offense in the fourth quarter, in which they scored 21 points and held Rutgers to eight.

After a few days off, Rutgers will return to action on Tuesday against Purdue. Their matchup with the Boilermakers will provide a perfect opportunity for Rutgers to climb in the Big Ten standings.