Rutgers women’s basketball lost a close game to Auburn, 51-46, on Thursday in Auburn, Alabama. The Scarlet Knights now have a 4-2 record for the season, while Auburn remains undefeated at 6-0.
Zachara Perkins led Rutgers with 15 points. Nene Ndiaye contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. The game was closely contested, featuring five lead changes and three ties.
Auburn held a 16-point lead late in the third quarter. Rutgers narrowed the gap to three points in the final seconds of the game but could not overtake their opponent. Ndiaye scored six points in the fourth quarter during Rutgers’ comeback attempt.
The first quarter saw both teams exchanging leads before Perkins scored at the buzzer to give Rutgers a two-point advantage heading into the second period. Early in the second quarter, Rutgers extended its lead to six points with contributions from Perkins and Ndiaye. Auburn responded with a run that put them ahead by halftime.
In the third quarter, Auburn increased its lead to ten points and later extended it to sixteen before Rutgers answered with an eight-point run. By the end of the third period, Auburn led by ten.
During the final quarter, Ndiaye made free throws and Ivey hit her second three-pointer of the night as Rutgers reduced Auburn’s lead to three points with under four minutes remaining. However, Auburn maintained their advantage until time expired.
Perkins has now scored at least ten points in five games this season, including each of her last three outings. Ndiaye reached double digits for her sixth consecutive contest and currently averages 15.8 points per game for Rutgers. Kaylah Ivey has made multiple three-pointers in all six games so far this season.
Both teams finished with 37 rebounds each; however, Rutgers had more offensive rebounds than Auburn (13-9).
Rutgers will play next at home against Siena on Monday, November 24 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
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