PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Sophomore Aniya Finger posted a double-double in only her second collegiate game to highlight play for the visiting North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in a 66-45 loss at Rutgers University on Wednesday.
 
The Scarlet Knights constructed an 18-point first half cushion that they were able to maintain in the second half in securing their third home win of the young season. Rutgers (3-1 Overall) scored 24 of its 66 points on the fast break and the Big Ten member finished with a 45-31 rebounding advantage.
 
Finger had team-high totals of 11 points and 10 rebounds in completing her first collegiate double-double.
 
Junior Blessing Okoh also reached double-digit points for the Eagles, bucketing 10 points.
 
Finger and Okoh both shot 50 percent from the field as they each went 5 of 10 from the floor.
 
The Eagles only trailed by one possession, 9-6, at the under-5 media timeout of the first quarter before Rutgers finished the period on an 11-4 run to double up the score, 20-10. The second quarter had the same trend as the Scarlet Knights used a 12-2 run to finish the half, pulling out to a 35-17 advantage at the midway point.
 
Senior Awa Sidibe scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the first half to lead the hosts into the locker room. Sidibe also finished with six rebounds, six assists and four steals.
 
The Eagles made three of their five made 3-pointers in the third quarter. Sophomore Nia Ford made the third one in the final seconds as NCCU won the period, 12-11, to go into the final stanza trailing 46-29.
 
Ford finished with eight points on the night.
 
NCCU then used a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull the deficit to single digits. Fingers capped that rally with two consecutive baskets as the score closed to nine at 52-43.
 
However, Rutgers was able to close out another period strong just like in the first and second quarters. The Scarlet Knights ended the fourth quarter on a closing 14-2 surge as Rutgers final 21-point margin of victory was their largest lead of the game.
 
Erica Lafayette and Kaylene Smikle both added 12 points for the victors. Smikle also had eight rebounds, five steals and three blocks.  
 
Junior Kimeira Burks tallied six points and joined classmate Tippy Robertson in each dishing out five assists.
 
NC Central next plays at Hofstra University (Hempstead, N.Y.) on Friday at 2 p.m.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.