Wake Forest University
Rutgers
Deacs Drop Road Contest at Rutgers
11/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)
Piscataway, N.J. – Ariel Stephenson scored a career-high 25 points as Wake Forest dropped a 65-51 decision on the road at Rutgers Sunday (Nov. 19) evening inside the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Stevenson topped her previous career-high of 24 points, which she set last year against Miami. The junior was 7-for17 from the field, 8-of-10 from the free throw line and grabbed six rebounds.
Alex Sharp added eight points and Tyra Whitehead scored six while bringing in a team-best nine rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. For the fourth consecutive game, Wake Forest (2-2) outrebounded its opponent, owning a 46-35 advantage on the boards.
Rutgers (4-0) stormed out of the gate, scoring the first six points of the game, forcing a Wake Forest timeout. The Scarlet Knights extended the lead to 12-0 before Raegyn Branch connected from behind the arc to get the Deacs on the board.
After Rutgers built a 17-5 lead early in the second quarter, Stephenson personally outscored Rutgers 8-2 over a 52-second window to cut the deficit to six at 19-13. Wake Forest couldn't close the gap any further, as Rutgers took a 35-24 lead into the break.
Wake Forest was unable to climb back into the game in the second half, as Rutgers led by double digits for the final 20 minutes of play before closing out the victory.
The Deacs will face their second consecutive Big Ten opponent next time out, as Wake Forest will take on Minnesota in the opening round of the Lady Rebel Round-Up on Saturday, Nov. 25, in Las Vegas. UNLV will serve as the tournament hosts and will face Hofstra in the opening round of competition. The two winners and two losers will then match up on Sunday afternoon to close out play.
