PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Indiana State had four players score in double-figures in Sunday's finale of a three-game road trip, but Rutgers knocked down a program record 16 3-pointers in a 107-76 defeat for the Sycamores inside Jersey Mike's Arena.
Saroiya Ajomale led the Blue and White with 17 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while
Ashley Singhateh added a season-high 14 points and six rebounds in her first start with the Sycamores.
Aaliyah Youngblood tallied a season-high 12 points and six rebounds off the bench, while
Kristen McMillan finished with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
McMillan scored seven in the first quarter as the Sycamores kept pace early on with their Big Ten counterparts, but foul trouble caught up with the Trees as Rutgers built a 48-33 halftime lead. Indiana State put together its best offensive quarter of the early season with 27 points in the third, as Ajomale and Youngblood combined for 18 in the frame. The Sycamores cut their deficit to single-digits early in the fourth, but Rutgers closed the game by outscoring the Trees 31-10 over the final seven minutes.
First Half
McMillan had the first five points for the Sycamores, including a three from the wing to give the Trees an early lead. Singhateh kept the Sycamores ahead with free throws midway through, while a putback layup from McMillan kept things rolling for the Blue and White. Indiana State went the last three minutes of the opening quarter without a basket, but the Sycamores remained within five, 20-15, after the first 10 minutes.
Back-to-back threes from the home side to start the second quarter forced the Trees into an early timeout and became an indication of what was to come the rest of the game. Baskets from Singhateh, Youngblood and
Crystal Schultz kept the Trees within 10, with Youngblood and Ajomale converting from the charity stripe to make it a single-digit game with just over two minutes remaining. Rutgers closed the half on a 7-0 run, though, and took a 48-33 lead over the Sycamores into the intermission.
Second Half
Rutgers pushed its lead out to 20 early in the third, but the Sycamores showed they weren't going away easily.
Jayci Allen knocked down a three-ball three minutes into the frame, while back-to-back layups from Youngblood cut into the Trees' deficit midway through the quarter. The Sycamores found their groove late in the third, as Ajomale connected on a pair of threes while Singhateh and Youngblood scored layups to cut the Sycamores' deficit down to 69-56. Ajomale added another basket inside the final minute, as the Sycamores trimmed what was a 21-point deficit down to 71-60 after three quarters.
Free throws from McMillan made it a single-digit game early in the fourth, while baskets from
Amerie Flowers and
Natalia Williams kept the Sycamores' comeback homes alive with seven minutes remaining. It was all Rutgers from there, though, as the Scarlet Knights went 7-for-8 from behind the arc in the final frame and outscored the Sycamores 31-10 in the last seven minutes to defeat the Sycamores 107-76.
News and Notes:
- Indiana State's 27-point third quarter was the Sycamores' highest-scoring quarter this season. The Sycamores have outscored their opponent in at least one quarter in each of the first three games, (fourth quarter at Northern Illinois, fourth quarter at Seton Hall, third quarter at Rutgers).
- Indiana State won the battle on the boards for the second time in the first three games, finishing plus-11 in rebound margin at Rutgers (45-34). The Trees corralled 17 offensive rebounds and finished with 18 second chance points.
- Indiana State's bench continued to register significant production, as the Sycamores finished Sunday's game with a 34-16 advantage in bench points.
- Both teams spent an extended amount of time at the free throw line, as Indiana State shot a season-best 27-for-34 (79.4 percent from the charity stripe) while Rutgers was 29-for-39 (74.4 percent).
- Sunday's game was the most balanced scoring effort the Sycamores have had this season, with four Trees finishing in double-figures.
- Aaliyah Youngblood became the fifth different Sycamore to score in double-figures in a game this season. Three Sycamores – Saroiya Ajomale, Kristen McMillan and Ashley Singhateh – have scored in double-figures twice this season.
- Saroiya Ajomale recorded her third straight game with multiple blocks to start the season, finishing with three blocks in Sunday's game. Ajomale averaged 2.3 blocks per game over the course of the Sycamores' opening road trip.
- Sunday's game marked the first-ever meeting between Indiana State and Rutgers.
- Rutgers' 16 3-pointers in Sunday's game were the most allowed by the Sycamores since Jan. 16, 2005 when Missouri State knocked down 19 threes against the Trees. It was also the Scarlet Knights' single-game record for 3-pointers.
- Sunday's starting lineup consisted of Ashley Singhateh, Kristen McMillan, Karsen Marshall, Eanae Dagons and Saroiya Ajomale. Singhateh's appearance in the starting lineup was her first in a Sycamore uniform.
Up Next
Indiana State plays its first home game of the season Tuesday night, welcoming in-state foe IU Indy to Hulman Center for a 7 p.m. tip. Tuesday's game begins a three-game homestand for the Sycamores, who play five of their next six at home.
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