Richardson-Smith Leads Pirates in Loss to Rutgers, 79-66
3/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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STORRS, Conn. (AP)- Tabatha Richardson-Smith had 18 points to lead the Pirates but the eighth-seed Rutgers beat No.9 seed Seton Hall 79-66 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
Tiffany Jones added 17 for Seton Hall (28-6), which was making just its third appearance in the tournament and its first in 20 years.
Rutgers led by six at the half, and was up 53-41 after a jumper by Copper with just over 14 minutes remaining.
"We just couldn't get over the hump," said Seton Hall coach Anthony Bozzella. "It was frustrating."
But Seton Hall made one of its several comebacks. A 3-pointer from the left corner by Janee Johnson capped a 15-3 run that tied the game with 9:14 left.
The Pirates had several comebacks during the game. They were down 19-11 before turning up their pressure defense. A layup by Tiffany Jones capped a 12-2 run that gave Seton Hall a 23-21 lead.
But Jones said something a few seconds later that cost her a technical foul. That helped Rutgers on a 14-1 run of its own, holding Seton Hall without a basket for more than seven minutes.
A 3-pointer by Richardson-Smith with 3:23 left would be the Pirates' last points.
Rutgers outscored Seton Hall 23-10 over the game's final nine minutes after the Pirates had come back from a 12-point second half deficit to tie the game at 56.
