Rutgers’ Destiny Adams dominates in win over Cornell

Rutgers senior Destiny Adams dominated in a 72-61 victory over Cornell at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Thursday night.
The New Jersey native led the Scarlet Knights to a 2-0 start with an impressive, double-double performance.
Adams racked up 30 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks and a steal, but it was her fourth quarter effort that stole the show.
In the final 10 minutes of the back-and-forth affair, Adams scored 14 points and went a perfect, 7-of-7 from the floor. She also pulled down six rebounds and dished out an assist.
“I think once I got into the groove I kind of just kept going,” Adams said. “I really just appreciate my teammates for feeding me the ball knowing that I was kind of on. I don’t think I would have had this kind of turnout without them.”
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Rutgers coach Coquese Washington said the team kept calling Adams’ number because they felt like she had an advantage against Cornell.
“Destiny is just such a great player that if she gets enough opportunities she is going to come through,” Washington said. “The first three quarters it was a task for us to kind of get in sync and get in rhythm but in the fourth quarter, I felt like we got our rhythm and a lot of that was because we were playing through Destiny.”
JoJo Lacey also put up double digits. The Boston College transfer scored 11 points and gave Rutgers a much-needed spark heading into the locker room at halftime.
Lacey hit back-to-back baskets to close out the first half and tie things up, 34-34. She scored on a putback off a missed free throw and sank a 3-pointer right before the buzzer.
Freshman Kiyomi McMiller, who left Monday‘s season opener against Manhattan in the first quarter after sustaining an eye injury, was cleared to return for Thursday’s contest.
After struggling a bit in the first half, McMiller went on to have a productive night which culminated in eight points, eight assists, six rebounds and two blocks.
“I think it is big for her confidence and big for the team’s confidence,” Washington said. “I think we are still learning and working out the kinks. Learning how to play together with the new players. …
“We are kind of getting our rhythm as we are playing our games. So for her to keep playing and keep fighting and struggle to make some shots that she makes in practice — they were rolling in and out — we’ve just got to keep working together and finding our chemistry out on the court.”
The Scarlet Knights host NJIT on Sunday afternoon at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
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Joey Chandler may be reached at [email protected]