Feb. 14, 2006

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Matee Ajavon scored 14 points and Essence Carson added 13 to help No. 7 Rutgers beat Villanova 62-56 on Tuesday night.

The Scarlet Knights (20-3, 12-0 Big East) overcame a sluggish first half for their eighth straight victory.

Down 25-23 at the half after making only nine of 23 shots from the field, Rutgers took the lead at 27-26 on Carson's jumper early in the second half.

Rutgers increased its lead to 15 with 8:36 to play, then didn't hit a field goal the rest of the game. But the Scarlet Knights did hit 10 of 12 free throws.

Rutgers star Cappie Pondexter, the nation's second-leading scorer at 22.1 points per game, was held to just nine, going 2-for-12 from the field. It ended a streak of 28 straight games in which she had scored in double figures.

Jackie Adamshick scored 14 points and Kate Dessart Mager added 12 for Villanova (14-9, 5-7). The Wildcats had won their last two games.