Khadijah Rushdan bounced around the court Saturday like a 5-9 pinball with a surgically reconstructed knee. She created points in traffic. She recovered from a late-game brain freeze. She absorbed body blows as she fought for possession.
“That’s the game, you know what I mean?” Rushdan said after filling up the stat sheet during a gripping 75-64 win against Marquette at The RAC in Piscataway. “I’m going to ice, come back to tomorrow and do the same thing.”
Rushdan had 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals. In between, she crashed hard on her back while leaping for a rebound, was clipped in the face sliding for a first-half loose ball and dragged her body up and down the court for 32 minutes.
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer understands. She cracked a wry smile when asked about Rushdan’s propensity for contact.
“Oh, she likes that,” Stringer said. “Believe me, D likes it. That’s the problem: Sometimes they don’t have contact — she finds it.”
Rushdan was the anchor for a team effort from Rutgers (12-7, 4-1 Big East). Facing a complicated 2-3 matchup zone from Marquette (12-7, 3-3), Stringer ditched most of the designed plays during the game and allowed her team to just play.
With sophomore Chelsey Lee out due to an illness, the offense didn’t disappoint. Sophomore April Sykes cruised to nine first-half points and 11 total. Senior Brittany Ray put up 14 and two crucial 3s.
The center tandem of Rashidat Junaid and Monique Oliver combined for 16. Freshman Erica Wheeler shot poorly (2-for-12) but still finished with nine.
“We’re not the greatest, but we can do better,” Stringer said. “And that’s what we’re doing.”
Rushdan made the difference during a contest in which the lead changed 19 times.
The game turned on a lightning-fast sequence with 3:28 left, when Rushdan first blundered before bulling her way to a basket to put her team ahead for good. It started off a timeout, Rutgers leading by 1 and Rushdan inbounding the ball.
Her entry passed sailed into the hands of Golden Hawks guard Lauren Thomas-Johnson, who fed Angel Robinson (19 points) for an easy layup.
Frustrated by her mistake, Rushdan responded. A minute later, she penetrated for a bucket. After Thomas-Johnson’s 3 clanged long, Rushdan snatched the ball and looked upcourt.
Two Golden Hawks stood in her path. She dribbled into the lane, hesitated, up-faked, then buried a lay-up for a three-point lead. Marquette coach Terri Mitchell called time. But there was little she could do.
“We just let her go right down the middle and score,” Mitchell said. “That’s an emotional play for them.”
The Golden Hawks resorted to fouling late and Rutgers pulled away with a healthy victory as they travel to undefeated, No. 1 Connecticut on Tuesday.
Little time for rest. As Rushdan exited the Rutgers media center, Stringer cast an eye toward her.
“Get some ice,” she said.
“All right,” Rushdan replied.
Andy McCullough may be reached at amccullough@starledger.com