PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women’s basketball team (10-14, 2-11 B1G) defeated Purdue (8-15, 1-11 B1G), 78-69, at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Sunday afternoon.
JoJo Lacey led the scoring for the Scarlet Knights, collecting 22 points for just her second 20-point game of the season. Destiny Adams notched her 12th double-double of the year with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Mya Petticord netted a season-high 17 points in the contest.
RU also celebrated its annual Play4Kay game in partnership with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, RWJBarnabas Health and the Rutgers Cancer Institute. The team welcomes cancer warriors and survivors with a pregame reception as well as celebrations throughout the game.
After Purdue scored again, Perkins then added two more at the free-throw line along with a three-pointer from JoJo Lacey.
Out of the media timeout at 4:51, the Boilermakers converted on a three-point play, but Rutgers tacked on five more thanks to a deep ball and layup from Destiny Adams.
Purdue then scored three more points, but with time expiring, Lisa Thompson drained a spinning fade away to beat the buzzer and end the first quarter with the Scarlet Knights in front, 17-10.
The Boilermakers scored three points to open the second period, but Mya Petticord canceled them out with a shot from beyond the arc.
Purdue slowly started chipping away, scoring five points along with a Lacey free throw, to bring the game within three.
The Scarlet Knights then got hot, going on a 9-0 run in under two minutes. Petticord drained another three-pointer along with baskets from Awa Sidibe, Chyna Cornwell and JoJo Lacey. The Boilermakers kept fighting, however, adding five more points to their total.
With just over two minutes remaining, RU rattled off another 9-2 streak and ended the first half with another deep three from Lacey. The teams would head to the locker room with Rutgers up, 39-25.
After the break Lacey put up a jumper to put RU up by 16 points, but the Boilermakers wouldn’t go quietly. Purdue scored nine straight to bring the game within seven with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Over the next several minutes, Perkins, Adams and Lacey all traded baskets with the Boilermakers, but the Scarlet Knights still held the seven advantage, 47-40.
Adams drilled a second deep three-pointer, along with a layup to cancel out a Purdue score and RU went up by double-digits.
Have we mentioned we LOVE a Destiny Adams deep ball?!?!?!?!
The Boilermakers answered with a three-point shot of their own and two free-throws, but Lacey sank her own free-throw to maintain the six-point edge headed into the final quarter of play.
Right out of the gate, Purdue dropped a layup and a three pointer to cut the Scarlet Knight lead down to one.
However, Lacey sank yet another three-pointer to put RU ahead by four.
A Boilermaker deep ball brought it back to a one-point game before Rutgers took over, netting 11-straight points. Petticord scored seven of the 11 points and put RU up, 67-55, with 3:57 remaining.
Purdue did not let up however, scoring three points followed by another Petticord score. The Boilermakers kept the pressure on scoring six more after that, but that was all they could muster.
As the fouls started coming, RU got the job done at the charity stripe. The Scarlet Knights made seven free-throws down the stretch to seal the victory, 78-69.
Gallery: (2-9-2025) RU WBB vs. Purdue
Knights Notes
With 20 points and 11 rebounds against Purdue, Destiny Adams recorded her 12th double-double of the season and 20th of her career. She has reached double-digits in the last 12 games and all but three this season.
Adams’s 11 rebounds, including six off the offensive glass, mark her 13th performance with 10+ boards.
Mya Petticord netted a season high 17 points in the contest, her third outing with 10+ points this campaign. She also went a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.
Lacey has recorded double digit points in 11 games this season and two with 20+ points. She was 3-of-7 from beyond the arc against Purdue and has hit three or more threes in five contests this slate.
Lacey also ended with three steals and four assists to match her season best.
Adams (20) and Lacey (22) are the first Scarlet Knights to both have 20 or more points in a game since Dec. 8, 2024, at Wisconsin.
The Scarlet Knights held Purdue to 4-of-21 (19 percent) from beyond the arc.
RU recorded 10 steals in the contest, the eighth time this season with double-digit takeaways.
After the first points of the game, Rutgers took hold and held the lead for 38 minutes.
The Scarlet Knights bested the Boilermakers in three of four quarters, including the fourth (25-22).
The 78-69 victory marks head coach Coquese Washington‘s first win over Purdue at Rutgers and the program’s first win against the Boilermakers since 2021.
Volume Up
Looking Ahead
RU will head to Iowa for its second to last road trip of the season to Iowa on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET
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