Providence College Athletics
Providence College
9-17, 3-10
Rutgers
16-10, 7-6
Women's Basketball Falls To Rutgers, 55-42
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2009
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Epiphany Prince tallied a game-high 16 points to lead the Rutgers University women's basketball team to a 55-42 victory over Providence in BIG EAST action on February 21. The match-up was played at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J. Kia Vaughn added 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers jumped out to a 7-0 lead through the first 2:39 of play. Providence scored its first basket at the 16:30 mark, spurring a 7-0 run to tie the game at 14:07 (7-7). The Scarlet Knights responded to take an 18-9 lead as Khadijah Rushdan netted three free-throws after being fouled in the act of shooting beyond the arc. Providence cut the deficit to three (20-17) at the 6:19 mark as senior Chelsea Marandola (Johnston, R.I.) netted back-to-back three pointers and sophomore Mi-Khida Hankins (Baltimore, Md.) added a jumper. Rutgers got hot down the stretch and closed out the half with a 16-6 scoring advantage, and went to the locker room at the half with a 36-23 lead.
Marandola hit 4-of-5 attempts from the field in the first half, including 3-of-3 from three-point territory for 11 points. Kia Vaughn recorded 10 first-half points for Rutgers.
In the second half, the Friars closed within seven points (43-36) with 8:47 remaining in regulation after outscoring the Scarlet Knights 13-7 to begin the session. Rutgers responded with a 7-0 run to take a 50-36 lead with 5:46 on the clock. Both teams scored just 19 points in the second half as Rutgers came away with a 55-42 win.
Marandola was held scoreless in the second half, but led the team offensively with 11 points. Hankins notched 10 points. Sophomore Trinity Hull (Cranston, R.I.) added eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Providence College returns to action on Wednesday, February 25 against BIG EAST foe Marquette. The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I.
