No. 11 Rutgers women run past Fordham 68-48

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Khadijah Rushdan scored 16 points and Monique Oliver added 14 to lead No. 11 Rutgers to a 68-48 rout of Fordham on Thursday night.

Betnijah Laney added 12 points for the Scarlet Knights (9-1), who rebounded from their first loss of the season, a double overtime defeat at No. 9 Miami on Monday night. Rutgers will host seventh-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday night.

Rutgers got off to a sluggish start before taking control with a 25-7 burst. Rushdan and Oliver each had six points during the run.

The Scarlet Knights led 37-25 at the break and scored the first nine points of the second half to blow the game open.

Becky Peters had 12 points while Abigail Corning added 10 for Fordham (5-4), which was off to its best start in nine years under first-year coach Stephanie Gaitley.

Trailing 10-6 early in the game, Rutgers went on its run to take command. Rushdan got the spurt started with two free throws, and then three straight baskets off the press by Briyona Canty, Oliver and Laney got the Scarlet Knights going.

After a 3-pointer by Peters brought Fordham within 18-15, April Sykes scored five of Rutgers' next seven points. Rushdan capped the burst with back-to-back jumpers that made it 31-17 with 2:35 left in the half.

Rutgers wouldn't let Fordham back in the game, coming out of halftime with a renewed energy. By the time Christina Gaskin hit a 3-pointer from the wing 3½ minutes into the second half for the Rams, they found themselves down 46-28.

The Scarlet Knights pushed the advantage to 24 on Laney's layup, and the rout was on. Rutgers' talented freshman class closed out the game, playing the final 8 minutes.

It had been 21 years since these teams last played, with Rutgers coming away with a 77-69 victory in 1990.