LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer wasn’t happy with several aspects of her team’s play against Louisville.
Inside play, turnovers and bench play were all listed as problems.
Rutgers (20-6, 11-4) was led by freshman guard Tyler Scaife’s 17 points and six rebounds, but she had four turnovers. Forward Betnijah Laney added 14 points and 12 rebounds in a 72-58 loss to No. 3 Louisville on Sunday.
Starting forward Rachel Hollivay started, played 19 minutes and didn’t score, but had seven rebounds.
“Our four and five positions (forwards) have been killing us,” said Stringer. “The rebounding side has been killing us. We knew what we needed to do. I wish that we would have executed and we didn’t. Hopefully we’ll learn from that.”
While Rutgers outrebounded Louisville 46-40, the Scarlet Knights turned the ball over 18 times leading to 23 Louisville points.
Louisville (27-2, 15-1) went on a 13-5 run near the end of the first-half and led 34-26 at halftime. Rutgers got within 40-31 on Copper’s two free throws with 17:37 to play, but the Lady Cards scored 10 straight as senior forward Asia Taylor had four of her career high 25 points during the stretch. She also had a career high 15 rebounds.
The Lady Cards’ lead grew to 62-44 on Antonia Slaughter’s jumper with 8:55 to play. Rutgers never got closer than 11 the rest of the way - the last time at 69-58 with 2:33 to play.
It was Louisville’s second win this season over the Scarlet Knights, the other a nine-point win at Rutgers. Taylor had 19 points, four rebounds and four steals in that game.
“Asia Taylor was too quick,” said Stringer.
Rutgers rallied in the second-half of its first game with Louisville but could never really seriously threaten this time.
“In the first game the bench came in and got us the lead,” Stringer said. “This time, I guess I’m not too surprised the bench was ineffective.”
Taylor said adjustments were made after the previous game that helped Sunday’s efforts.
“I think that playing them the first time really helped us as far as tendencies,” she said. “It’s different seeing it on film, but when you’re actually playing against them you kind of get people’s tendencies. Myself, I was kind of picking out different spots they like to be and things they like to run. I think that we were better prepared this time around just from our focus and knowing exactly what we had to do.”
Rutgers substitutes scored only eight points and Briyona Canty had seven of those.
“It was an NCAA atmosphere and we didn’t play with the same kind of composure we needed to have,” said Stringer. “It came to that, jump shots.”
“The four and five positions we were concerned about ate us up. Taylor and Hamond. (Shoni) Schimmel was pretty much kept at bay,” said Stringer. “What happened on the inside, I don’t think we trusted each other defensively enough. It allowed them to go to work.”
Schimmel, Louisville’s leading scorer averaging 17.6 points, was guarded by Syessence Davis, who held her to 13 points on five of 14 shooting from the field.
Rutgers has three regular season games remaining before the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
“Hopefully we can learn to get better in the tournament,” said Stringer. “Scaife is playing much better defense. I’m really happy about that.”
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