Jan 15, 2003

Final Stats

By DAVID PORTER
Associated Press Writer

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Cappie Pondexter scored on a driving layup with 28 seconds left, and Shalicia Hurns made a key steal to lift Rutgers over No. 19 Villanova 58-57 Wednesday night.

Pondexter drove from the right side and banked in a shot to give Rutgers a 58-57 lead.

Hurns then trapped Villanova's Courtney Mix in the corner on the next possession, stole the ball and was fouled with 18 seconds left. Hurns missed the front of the one-and-one, but Villanova's Trish Juhline was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.

Pondexter led Rutgers (8-4, 2-1 Big East) with 23 points and helped the Scarlet Knights improve to 6-0 at home this season. Three of Rutgers' losses have come to teams ranked in the top 10.

Juhline had a season-high 27 points, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Villanova (12-2, 3-1) was attempting to tie the best start in school history set by the 1981-82 team.

With Villanova trailing 56-54, Kelly Nash missed a 3-pointer but the ball was rebounded by Mix. Katie Davis then sank her first shot of the second half from the top of the key with 42.4 seconds remaining to give Villanova its first lead of the game at 57-56.

The second of two driving layups by Chelsea Newton had given Rutgers a 54-51 lead with 2:17 left after a 3-pointer by Juhline closed the gap to 52-51.

Nash's fourth 3-pointer of the half tied the score at 54, but Pondexter scored on a running bank shot to push the Scarlet Knights back up by two points.

Pondexter scored six of Rutgers' first eight points of the second half as the Scarlet Knights opened a 40-32 lead with 13:08 left in the game. Villanova crept back, though, and tied the game at 46 on a 3-pointer by Nash. Eight of Villanova's 10 second-half baskets came from behind the arc.

Villanova trailed by two points at halftime despite falling behind 18-4 in the game's first nine minutes. Rutgers' Dawn McCullough, Pondexter and Newton each scored four points in the span, while Juhline had both Villanova baskets.

Villanova's comeback was aided by a technical foul on Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, who was whistled with 9:08 remaining in the half. Katie Davis made both free throws, and Juhline sank a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to cut Rutgers' lead to 18-13.

Juhline, who entered the game averaging 16 points per game, scored 14 of Villanova's first 18 points and finished the half with 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting, including 3-for-3 from behind the arc.

With Rutgers leading 26-21 after a 3-pointer by Nash with four minutes left, Juhline made a running jump shot and 3-pointer sandwiched around a jumper by Pondexter to pull the Wildcats to 28-26 at halftime.