Rutgers overcame Cappie Pondexter's flu, Villanova's hot shooting in the first half and the overall stress of playing Harry Perretta' s methodical team to secure a 62-56 victory.

Pondexter's streak of double digit scoring ended at 28 games as she finished with 9 points on 2-9 shooting. Matee Ajavon, Essence Carson, and Kia Vaughn helped lead the Knights. Ajavon had 14 points and 6 assists and Carson added 13 points. The two took care of much of the scoring in the second half when Rutgers took control of the game.

Vaughn helped with her scoring and rebounding, but also with her overall presence. Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer started a smaller line up and saw her team down 23-14 with 6:28 left in the half. They fought back to trail 25-23 by half-time. When Vaughn entered the line up in the second half, things began to change. Rutgers scored on nine straight possessions after her entrance, and on 11-of-12 overall, the Knights came away with points when Vaughn was on the floor.

Rutgers led by as many as 15 points in the second half before the Wildcats cut into the deficit in the final minutes. Villanova was led by Jackie Adamshick's 14 points and Kate Dessart Mager's 12 points and 8 rebounds. And Stringer hopes this is the only meeting of the year between the two teams.

"It's just our luck: We'll draw them in the Big East tournament," Stringer said. "And the one team I don't want to see is Villanova and my buddy Harry Perretta because they make you work so hard against them."