Rutgers WBB Looks Ahead to the Big Ten Tournament after a loss to Northwestern on Senior Day

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The Rutgers WBB Team(8-23, 2-16 Big Ten) squared off against the Northwestern Wildcats(9-20, 4-14 Big Ten) on Senior Day and 2023-214 regular season home finale at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Rutgers was coming off a 93-57 loss to Michigan State at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. Erica Lafayette totaled 20 points for the Scarlet Knights, Jillian Huerter accounted for 12 points, and Destiny Adams chipped in 11.

Before tip-off, three Rutgers senior players were honored in a fantastic pre-game ceremony, Erica Lafayette, Kassondra Brown, and Chyna Cornwell coming out to center court with their families and standing next to their framed jerseys.

Scarlet Knights Head Coach Coquese Washington on the impact of the seniors, “If I had to pick a word, it would be resilience, continuing to fight through the tough times and situations not their own making but they show up every day with a great attitude, great mindset about attacking the day, moment and game.” “Their lasting impact will be their resilience and fight they have shown during their time here.”

“That was rewarding not for me but to see people get recognition for their hard work and what they bring to the table.” “All the seniors and managers bring so much to our program daily, and the managers doing so much work behind the scenes.”

“Our practice players bring something to the table that is important.” “As we continue to build this program the outside world may not see it in terms of wins in the win column but on the inside we see and feel it and know how the culture and program is being built so we will be prepared to have the success we want in the near future.”

Northwestern came out firing out of the gates from behind the arc in the first quarter, hitting four triples as the Wildcats jumped out to a 16-3 lead. However, Rutgers slowly chipped away at the deficit and drew to within 22-13 at the end of the period. Northwestern is shooting a blistering 64 percent from the perimeter.

In the second quarter, the Scarlet Knights carried the late momentum from the first quarter into the second behind the gritty play of Chyna Cornwell, tallying eight points as the Wildcat’s lead shrunk down to 26-21. Northwestern ignited a rebuttal as they extended the margin back to double digits at 32-22 before settling for a 36-28 halftime lead.

“Chyna(Cornwell) is the steady eddy, and you know what you’re going to get from her. How she played today is emblematic of how she has approached everything from day one,” Head Coach Coquese Washington described. “She says what’s my job, grabs her lunch box and hard hat and goes to work and does what she can.”

“She fights and fights and finds a way to do her job even when the odds are against her, and her heart is something that is immeasurable and I appreciate Chyna bringing that every day.”

Once the third quarter commenced, Rutgers closed to within seven points at 42-35, but the Wildcats continued to shoot at a searing clip of 66 percent and converted 10 of 15 field goals as they expanded their advantage to 59-44 heading into the fourth quarter.

Head Coach Coquese Washington said in the third quarter,

“We had turnovers, Northwestern did a great job of taking advantage of their size and went inside.” “We didn’t respond well to our help side defense and having enough ball pressure to make some of the passes a little bit more challenging.”

Northwestern’s shooting percentage nosedived in the fourth quarter but was still good enough to maintain a double-digit lead as the Wildcats cruised to the 72-61 victory.

Destiny Adams dropped a game-high 14 points while Erica Lafayette contributed 11 points, and Jillian Huerter and Antonia Bates each netted 10 points apiece.

“From the beginning of the season and since my time here, I have seen Erica play the point guard, dribble the ball, play off the ball, change her shot and work on her defense,” Head Coach Coquese Washington noted. “She embraced getting better and better and her game has blossomed over the year.” “She has figured out how to be effective and impactful as a Big Ten player.”

“Jillian this year and Antonia last year getting thrown into the fire as a freshman and being required and asked to do a lot and carry a load, maybe they weren’t ready as freshmen.” “You got to go out there and do it and take shots and burden of being a starter and playing a lot of minutes, and they have embraced it and not walked away from it and said it’s too much and hard.”

“They’re embracing it and getting better for it.” “Towards the end of their careers as juniors and seniors and leaders and experienced, and with the freshman coming in, it will be better for having gone through the fires.”

The Scarlet Knights now shift their attention to a Big Ten Tournament First Round match-up against the Minnesota Golden Gophers(15-13, 5-13 Big Ten) on Wednesday, March 5th, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 9 p.m. EST/ 8 p.m. CST. Rutgers defeated Minnesota 81-73 on February 13th at Jersey Mike’s Arena.

“It’s been a tough year when you have 6 or 7 players and they’re fatigued and you don’t have a sub and fatigue sets in and been a challenge this year to develop that consistency,” Head Coach Coquese Washington stated. “That’s sports and no one is crying for us and we aren’t crying for ourselves and there are a number of teams this year across the country that had the same circumstances as we did and chose not even to show up and compete.”

“Our team not once said we’re not going to show up and that is not a judgment on anybody else and I think it says something about our kids in the locker room that they’re going to fight not matter what and show up and compete as hard as they can and let the chips where they may fall.” “We’re going into the Big Ten Tournament with the resilience backpacked in our bags and ready to enjoy the experience and compete as hard as we can.”

“It’s not so much being on the court but the mental preparation and focus.” “It’s going to be a home game for Minnesota, but we will be ready and have played in front of many great crowds, and I don’t think our players will be intimidated but excited.”

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