Jan. 26, 2008

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Epiphanny Prince scored 19 points and Rutgers pulled away late to win its 12th straight game with a 63-54 victory over Villanova on Saturday.

Kia Vaughn added 16 points and eight rebounds while Matee Ajavon scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half for the Scarlet Knights (17-2, 7-0 Big East), who won their 10th straight home game and 25th straight against an unranked opponent.

Laura Kurz had 15 points, Stacie Witman 14 and Lisa Karcic 11 for the Wildcats (12-8, 2-5), who lost for the third time in four games and got just one offensive rebound that was credited to the team. Rutgers held a 34-20 rebounding advantage against perimeter-oriented Villanova.

Trailing by six at halftime, the Wildcats took a 38-37 lead before Ajavon's 3-pointer forged the game's 10th and final lead change. Ajavon scored seven straight to give Rutgers a 44-38 advantage.

Villanova, which shot 10-for-20 from 3-point range, then got within three on four different occasions. With the score 52-49, Rutgers finally broke away when Ajavon and Prince sandwiched 3-pointers around an Essence Carson basket to make it 60-49 with 3:13 remaining.

Rutgers shot 50.9 percent and Villanova was at 48.9, becoming the 27th straight Rutgers opponent to shoot below 50 percent.

The Knights opened various leads between five and seven in the first half, but Villanova shot its way back into it as there were six lead changes and two ties. Prince's driving lay-up started an 8-0 run and Rutgers held a 33-27 advantage at halftime.