Patterson Scores 1,000th, Rutgers Outlasts Blue Devils 73-44, Tuesday
Kiana Patterson becomes the 16th women's basketball player to score 1,000 points at CCSU.
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to Big Ten member on Tuesday evening inside the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway Township, NJ. Senior Kiana Patterson scored 25 points, including her 1,000th, going 9-16 from the floor and 4-9 from downtown.
The Troy, NY native crossed her defender from the wing and took a fading 8-foot jumper inside the paint at 5:14 in the first quarter to reach 1,000 points. Patterson is now the 16th women's basketball player to reach this milestone.
CCSU is now 0-3 on the year and Rutgers advances to 3-0 on the season.
Rutgers had the size advantage over Central as the Blue Devils struggled to defend around the rim allowing the Scarlet Knights 20 points in the paint in the first half. Patterson kept CCSU in the game scoring 13 of the teams 17 first half points.
The Scarlet Knights opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run after forcing back-to-back Central turnovers.
At the break, Patterson led all scorers with 13 points on 5-11 shooting including 3-8 from downtown with one assist. Rutgers, led by its 20 points in the paint, shot 43.8% from the floor and led 37-17 with 20 minutes left to play.
Out of the break, senior Denisha Gardener provided a spark for the Blue Devils scoring a layup off an up and under move and getting to the foul line five times. Classmate Andi Lydon also got to the foul line going 4-6 in the third.
Central played aggressive on both ends of the floor forcing five Scarlet Knight turnovers and attacking the basket to draw fouls. CCSU took 15 foul shots and outscored Rutgers by one point in the third quarter. Despite the aggressive play in the second half, Rutgers went on to win 73-44.
Rutgers forward Caitlin Jenkins heated up late scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter. She recorded a double-double finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Stasha Carey and Ciani Cryor also scored in double figures for the Scarlet Knights. The win for Rutgers marked the 1,000th career win for head coach C. Vivian Stringer who became the sixth Division 1 basketball coach to win 1,000 games.
Central continues their stretch of road games on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Massachusetts at 2 p.m.
