Download the New Bucket Knight: Rutgers Women's Basketball Fights Hard Against Texas Tech

The Rutgers women's basketball team put up a valiant effort against Texas Tech in the first game of the South Point Classic, but ultimately fell short with a 79-72 loss.

Rutgers got off to a strong start, with Kaylene Smikle scoring the first basket of the game and leading her team to an early lead. The Scarlet Knights would hold onto that lead for most of the contest, but Texas Tech refused to back down. The Raiders fought hard to stay within striking distance, using a 6-2 stretch in the final two minutes of the quarter to bring the score within two points.

The second quarter was all Rutgers, as they cashed in on three scores and forced three turnovers to regain the lead. Smikle continued to lead the way, scoring four of the six points for her team during that stretch. By the end of the first period, Rutgers had taken their first lead of the game, 17-15.

The two teams traded baskets throughout the rest of the contest, with neither able to gain a significant advantage. Texas Tech used a big fourth quarter to take control, but Rutgers refused to give up. In the end, it was too little, too late for the Scarlet Knights, who fell short by just seven points.

Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives to take away from the game. Smikle paced the team with 20 points, six assists, two steals, and four rebounds. Destiny Adams and Kassondra Brown also reached double digits in scoring, with 13 and 11 points respectively. Brown added eight rebounds to her total, bringing in a team-high on the glass.

The contest featured 11 lead changes and six ties, making for an exciting and back-and-forth game. In the end, Texas Tech's big fourth quarter was enough to secure their victory over Rutgers.

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