Rutgers women's basketball drops second game in a row

Basketball, College, Featured, Rutgers University

December 5, 2022

On Sunday, Dec. 4, the Rutgers University women's basketball team took on No. 4 Ohio State University in their first Big Ten matchup at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights lost 82-70 to the Buckeyes and now sit with a 0-1 conference record while the Buckeyes extend their win streak to eight games.

Senior Rebeka Mikulasikova led the Buckeyes with 31 points and six rebounds, while senior Taylor Mikesell added 30 points on the afternoon. For the Scarlet Knights, freshman Kaylene Smikle led the team with 21 points.

Highlights

Ohio State immediately took the lead against Rutgers. Redshirt junior Madison Greene started the scoring with a jumper in the paint right before senior Awa Sidibe scored a jumper to even up the game. The Buckeyes then went on an 8-0 scoring run. Mikesell started the drive with a 3-pointer followed by a layup from sophomore Taylor Thierry. Mikesell finished off the run with a 3-pointer.

Smikle broke the scoreless drive with a jumper in the paint. Smikle's jumper was then followed by a 7-0 run by the Buckeyes to finish off the quarter. The drive ended with Thierry hitting a jumper and then sinking the and-one to end the half leading 20-6.

Kaylene Smikle doing Kaylene Smikle things.

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— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 4, 2022

At the start of the second quarter, the Buckeyes did not let up on their scoring. In the first two minutes, the team scored 10 points, as Rutgers only scored four. Mikulasikova scored four points, and Mikesell had six in their 10-point run.

Sidibe got two points back for the Scarlet Knights, and senior Kassondra Brown also had a 3-pointer. Rutgers then went on a 7-0 run to close the deficit. Senior Kai Carter started the drive with a 3-pointer followed by a jumper by Sidibe. Smikle was fouled at the end of the drive to allow her to sink both free throws. For the Buckeyes, Mikulasikova and Mikesell combined for the majority of the points in the quarter. Ohio State led 43-28 going into halftime.

AT THE BUZZER 🚨

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— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 4, 2022

Returning from halftime, Smikle started the scoring for Rutgers with a jumper in the paint for two. Smikle was then fouled a few moments later and made one of her two free throws. Mikulasikova got some points back for the Buckeyes with a jumper and a 3-pointer to increase the lead to 13.

Rutgers decreased the deficit as the quarter went on, as their offense was producing the numbers needed not to be so far behind. Smikle shot a jumper which was then followed up by a jumper from Carter to be only nine points behind the Buckeyes. That didn't last long before Mikesell returned for Ohio State and shot a good 3-pointer. Smikle and Carter combined with having the majority of points for the rest of the quarter. The Buckeyes finished the quarter once again, leading 61-49.

That one is allll Kai Carter!

We've got a nine-point game here at Jersey Mike's Arena!

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— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 4, 2022

Ohio State stayed dominant in the final quarter to secure their win over the Scarlet Knights. Mikesell and Mikulasikova did not let up, as they combined for a majority of the points in the quarter. Smikle, Carter and Brown had the majority of points for Rutgers, but it still wasn't enough to grab the win. Ohio State defeated the Scarlet Knights 82-70.

Rutgers finished the game shooting 49.1% in the paint and 27.8% from downtown. Ohio State shot 53.4% in the paint and 42.1% from downtown.

Smikle becomes the only Scarlet Knight to reach 20+ points this season. This was her third game with over 20 points. Carter also recorded a career-high five assists this game.

What's Up Next for the Scarlet Knights?

Rutgers returns to the court on Wednesday against the University of Illinois for the team's first Big Ten away matchup of the season. You can watch your Scarlet Knights on B1G+.