by PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team was held to a season-low scoring effort, falling 75-46 on Saturday to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at The RAC.
The Illini (3-15, 1-14 B1G) trailed by seven, 13-20, at the end of the first period, but the Scarlet Knights (10-3, 6-3 B1G) stifled the Illinois offense, holding them to only nine points in the second quarter. Rutgers led 41-22 at the half.
Illinois could not keep up in the second half as the gap widened, thanks in part to 26 Illini turnovers on the day.
Freshman guard Aaliyah Nye (Gun Lake Tribe) paced the Illini with 11 points, followed closely by sophomore guard Jada Peebles, who scored 10 of her own. Jeanae Terry and Eva Rubin contributed eight and seven points, respectively.
Arella Guirantes led the way for Rutgers with 24 points, while Diamond Johnson contributed another 20.
STAT OF THE GAME
Since a 78-41 blowout win over Rutgers in 2017, the Fighting Illini have averaged just 47.3 points in their last five games against the Scarlet Knights.
TEAM NOTES
- The Illini shot 79.2% (19-for-24) from the free throw line, a season-best percentage and free throws made on the road. The last time they shot at least 79.2% from the charity stripe on the road was Feb. 22, 2020 at Nebraska (83.3%). It is the most free throws the Illini have made on the road since Nov. 23, 2018 at Cal Poly (19) and the most in a conference game since Feb. 7, 2016 at Michigan (20).
- The 46 points scored by Illinois is a season low and their lowest since Jan. 30, 2020 at Rutgers (41).
- Illinois grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, their 13th effort of the season with double-digit offensive boards.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Freshman G Aaliyah Nye reached double-figures scoring for the third consecutive game and fifth time in her freshman season. She tallied a team-high 11 points, including a pair of three-pointers. It is her seventh game with multiple three-pointers.
