PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 B1G) defeated Wagner (0-1, 0-0 NEC) in its home opener Monday night, 79-50.
It was a full team effort on both ends of the floor as four Scarlet Knights reached double digit scoring and four brought in six or more rebounds. Imani Lester led the way with 17 points, followed by Kaylah Ivey with 13. Zachara Perkins and Lester paced the team off the boards with nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
How it Happened
- Nene Ndiaye got things started for Rutgers with the first score of the 2025-26 season. Kaylah Ivey and Zachara Perkins followed up with field goals to give RU a 6-2 lead with just under seven minutes to play.
- Ivey hit her first three of the season but Wagner answered with its first points since the 8:16 mark. The Scarlet Knights remained ahead 9-4 though, at the 4:12 media timeout.
- Out of the break, Imani Lester and Nene Ndiaye hit back-to-back three-pointers to force a Wagner timeout and increase the lead, 15-4.
- Janae Walker kept the momentum going into the second, with a big three-point play. Perkins joined in as well with a shot from deep to keep RU ahead, 21-7.
- Wagner tried to close the gap with a layup, but Lester kept the distance with a free throw, 22-10.
- Through the middle of the period, RU cashed in on a couple of free throws to stay in front, 25-10, at the 4:51 media stoppage.
- Rutgers continued to add points from the line but Wagner hit a three to make it a 16-point contest with 3:13 to play.
- Rutgers outscored Wagner 5-2 to end the opening half and take the 35-15 advantage into the locker room.
- Both teams hit jumpers to kick off the second half. Lester, Perkins and Lauryn Swann came up big for the Scarlet Knights, leading the team in a 10-3 run to stay ahead 47-21 at the halfway point of the third.
- Wagner broke up the stretch with three free throws, but Lester added four points of her own to kick off a 10-0 run for RU.
- WC put an end to the stretch with two shots from the line. Walker and Lester added points and Rutgers retained the dominant lead heading into the final 10 minutes, 63-28.
- Deja Young recorded the first bucket of the final quarter with a corner three.
- Wagner countered with a driving layup, but Walker had the answered with a layup of her own to keep the gap, 68-30.
- Wagner kept the offensive production up however, with layups in between a free throw from Walker.
- The Seahawks went on a 5-0 run of their own, until Kaylah Ivey stepped up with five points, including an explosive three-point play.
- Wagner strung three free throws together to once again try to close the gap, 75-43.
- However, Makylah Moore scored the first points of her collegiate career with two shots at the line.
- WC put together one last 7-1, but Moore had the final points of the night, with a layup to secure the 79-50 victory.
Gallery: (11-3-2025) Rutgers WBB vs. Wagner
Knights Notes
- Imani Lester recorded several career highs against Wagner including points (17), rebounds (8), free throws (8).
- Janae Walker recorded a career high nine points. Her previous best was six points which she reached twice last season.
- Zachara Perkins had a complete game with 11 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
- Kaylah Ivey led the way with eight assists, just two shy of the individual season high from 2024-25.
- Ivey (3-for-3) and Lauryn Swann (2-for-2) were perfect from the charity stripe.
- Antonia Bates made her return to the court after suffering an injury last season. her last game was at Virginia Tech (Nov. 19, 2024), 349 days ago.
- Freshmen Precious Gem Wheeler and Makylah Moore scored their first baskets of her collegiate careers.
- Rutgers has won its season opener in 12 of its last 14 seasons, including its last nine dating back to the 2017-18 campaign.
- All 12 active players saw the court on Monday and 10 recorded points.
- RU ended the night on top in rebounds (54-44), assists (15-7), steals (14-7) and blocks (4-3).
- The Scarlet Knights held the Seahawks to single digits in both the first (7) and second (8) quarters.
- Rutgers scored 22 points off 23 turnovers. The 23 forced giveaways was just three off from the team's 2024-25 season best.
- RU is now 9-0 all-time against Wagner.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers will kick off the season with three home games during the first week of play. The team will host Quinnipiac on Thursday, Nov. 6 (7 p.m.) before welcoming Stony Brook on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.
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