Rutgers University
9-18,1-15Big Ten
Penn State
10-17,3-13Big Ten
Women's Basketball Can't Get Past Penn State, 87-78
Feb 21 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball team (9-18, 1-15 B1G) dropped a close decision to Penn State (10-17, 3-13) on Saturday afternoon, 87-78.
Imani Lester netted 17 points to lead a group of five other Scarlet Knights in double figures, including Nene Ndiaye (16), Zachara Perkins (15), Faith Blackstone (13) and Kaylah Ivey (11).
Perkins recorded her first career double-double with 10 rebounds in addition to her 15 points.
The Scarlet Knights also celebrated their five seniors with a pregame ceremony.
Thank you, Seniors 🖤❤️#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/cOMoMAC62W
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) February 21, 2026
How it Happened
- Nene Ndiaye and Faith Blackstone combined for three free throws to start off the contest and take an early lead.
- Kaylah Ivey hit a kick out three and Imani Lester followed up with a jumper to extend the advantage, 8-0.
Kick out 👌
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) February 21, 2026
📺 @BigTenNetwork
📊 https://t.co/EDcoDTphMf#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/rIeHKiDTPc
- Penn State netted its first basket at 5:52, with a deep shot, followed by two free throws to cut the gap to three points.
- Both teams added more layups, including a contested basket from Lester, just before the 4:34 media timeout to keep the difference, 10-7.
- Lester kept it going after the pause, with back-to-back threes. The Nittany Lions added two layups in between to stay close, 16-11.
- The teams went back and forth scoring, but PSU continued to go on a 6-0 run and knot the score 18-18, before a Rutgers timeout with 58 seconds on the clock.
- Penn State hit another three-pointer before time expired, to take the 21-18 edge into the second quarter.
- Lester kept her momentum going, kicking off the second period with her third three of the day and a jumper to put RU back in front, 23-21.
👌👌👌
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) February 21, 2026
📺 @BigTenNetwork
📊 https://t.co/EDcoDTphMf#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/McBhR8ehFi
- The Nittany Lions took the lead back, however, with another eight points in a row, 29-23. Nene Ndiaye put an end to the stretch with a free throw with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.
- PSU came back with one more layup before the 4:52 media timeout to make the score 31-24.
- Out of the pause, Nene Ndiaye and Lauryn Swann combined for five points while PSU maintained a four-point advantage with a layup, 33-29.
- Penn State cashed in on a three, but the Scarlet Knights came back with three points of their own with a layup from Zachara Perkins and a free throw from Nene Ndiaye. The difference stayed at four points.
- The Nittany Lions recorded one more jumper before going into halftime to keep the 38-32 lead.
- The teams began the second half with more back and forth, with both teams netting six points in the first two minutes. Penn State hit consecutive threes, but Rutgers stayed in it, answering with two points each time.
- The Nittany Lions scored two five more points to force an RU timeout with 6:55 to go, 53-42.
- Both teams responded with layups once again, before Faith Blackstone and Nene Ndiaye came together for five points to make it an eight-point gap, 57-49, at the 4:18 media timeout.
AND ONEEEE 😤
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) February 21, 2026
📺 @BigTenNetwork
📊 https://t.co/EDcoDTphMf#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/1SKuL5n03b
- Through the end of the quarter, PSU outscored the Scarlet Knights 6-4 to stay in front by double digits, 63-53.
- Nene Ndiaye struck first in the final 10 minutes, and Perkins followed up with two shots at the line to cut the difference, 63-57. Penn State sunk its first points of the period at 8:52 with a pair of shots at the charity stripe. The opposition hit another free throw, but Blackstone hit a deep shot to make up the difference.
- The Nittany Lions netted back-to-back jumpers to stay on top by 10, 70-60, as Rutgers used another timeout with 6:46 on the clock.
- However, RU cut the advantage back to single digits with consecutive threes from Perkins and Kaylah Ivey, 70-66. PSU made up half the ground with a deep shot of its own to keep it at a seven-point gap.
- Each team recorded a layup before two more shots at the line for the visiting team, 77-71.
- Blackstone cashed in on a three-point play, followed by two layups per team, making the score 81-75, as the opposition used its first timeout with 1:13 on the clock.
- PSU scored three points at the line, but Ivey shot a long three to match the points. The opponent finished out the game with free throws to come away with the 87-78 victory.
Knights Notes
- Imani Lester led Rutgers with 17 points, coming just two points shy of her career best. She has reached 10+ points in 15 games this season.
- Zachara Perkins netted her first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. It marks the fourth double-double for Rutgers this campaign.
- In addition, Perkins matched her career high of three blocks.
- With 16 points, Nene Ndiaye has reached double figure points in a team-best 20 games this season. She also came close to a double-double with nine rebounds.
- Kaylah Ivey ended with 11 points, netting three three-pointers against the Nittany Lions. She has hit multiple deep shots in 16 outing this slate.
- Ivey also matched her season high of eight assists.
- Saturday's contest marks the second time in the 2025-26 season that five Scarlet Knights have netted 20+ points.
- RU won the battle of the boards, 38-29. The team brought in 20 offensive rebounds, including nine from Perkins. Rutgers has recorded 20 or more offensive boards four times this season.
- Rutgers won the final quarter, 25-24.
- The contest featured three lead changes and three ties.
Volume Up
Next Up
Rutgers will play its final home game of the regular season against Indiana on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
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