University of Louisville
Rutgers
No. 5 Rutgers Downs Louisville, 70-57
January 20, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2008
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Scarlet Knights' Matee Ajavon scored 23 points to help No. 5 Rutgers beat Louisville 70-57 on Sunday for the Scarlet Knights' 10th straight victory.
Kia Vaughn added 15 points and nine rebounds. Essence Carson had 14 points and Epiphanny Prince 13 for the Scarlet Knights (15-2, 5-0 Big East).
Angel McCoughtry led Louisville (12-6, 1-4) with 20 points -- three below her Big East-leading average.
Ajavon scored 10 straight points midway through the second half, boosting Rutgers' lead to 51-38.
Rutgers went up by double digits for the first time six minutes into the second half, extending a six-point lead on baskets by Vaughn and Heather Zurich. That came during a 9-2 spurt that left Rutgers with a 43-30 lead with under 13 minutes to play.
Rutgers led 32-23 at the half on the strength of shooting 50 percent. Defense played a prominent role as well, as McCoughtry was held to making one of six shots.
There were five lead changes in the half, with Louisville's last being 17-16. Rutgers then ran off eight straight points, with Ajavon hitting a pair of 3s to jump-start the spurt.
Louisville went scoreless for three minutes during the Rutgers run, finally scoring on a 3-pointer by Brandie Radde. Following a score underneath by Chauntise Wright Louisville closed the gap to 25-22.
But a free throw by Prince, a put-back by Myia McCurdy and a pretty drive by Carson built the lead back up to 30-22.
