Freshman star Ace Bailey scored 24 out of 37 in the first half and Rutgers won a rare road on Wednesday, with a 79–72 win over Northwestern in Evanston’s Welsh-Rain Arena.
Bailey recalled her school freshman record with two points, but had a third 30-plus-point game, which performed 13 out of 13 shooting from the ground, which included a career-high five 3-pointers on eight attempts. He also had six rebellion and three blocks.
Tyson Acade added 13 points to the Scarlette Nights (11-10, 4-5 Big Ten), which was without another standout freshman, point guard Dylan Harper (18.6 PPG), who missed the game with ankle injury .
Ratgers won their second True Road game against the Northwestern team, which came home in 25–3 in the last two sessions, including 11–1 this year.
Jalan Leach had 23 points, Nick Martinelly had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Brooks Barnhaizer added 10 for Wildcats (12–9, 3-7).
Belly hit 9 out of 10 shots, including all of his 3S, and Scarlet Nights shot 57% to lead 43–35 on a break. It is not that Northwestern struggled, shooting 54%, and both Martinelly and Leach had 10, but Bailey was almost invincible.
Wildcats took a 13–4 lead, but soon after that, Bailey scored 10 straight Rutgers points, and 3-pointer of Zamichel Davis gave Scarlet Nights 20–18.
Ratgers went to 4 out of 12 through the first 10 minutes of the second half, but Northwestern was only 3 out of 18 and never got close to seven points in the last 10 minutes.
Michigan visited Rutgers and number 17 Visconsin is in Northwestern on Saturday.