Freshman Ajavon Leads No. 4 Rutgers

Freshman Matee Ajavon had 24 points and a stifling Rutgers press held Pittsburgh to 16 second-half points Tuesday night as the No. 4 Scarlet Knights cruised to a 68-41 victory at Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers, 11-2 and 2-1 in the Big East Conference, has jumped from No. 24 to No. 4 in two weeks after beating powerhouses Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana State. It broke from a 34-25 halftime lead by forcing seven consecutive turnovers in a three-minute span while outscoring the Panthers, 11-0, and finished with a season-high 27 takeaways.

And then there was Ajavon.

“She’s just awesome,” senior Cappie Pondexter said. “She’s a great scorer, so strong and confident on the court.”

Ajavon was not made available because Coach C. Vivian Stringer does not permit postgame interviews of freshmen.

Katie Histed had 13 points for Pittsburgh (9-5, 1-2).

No. 5 Ohio State 84, Michigan 56 -- Caity Matter scored 15 of her 28 points in less than five minutes as the Buckeyes (15-2, 3-1 Big Ten) rolled to victory over the Wolverines (4-12, 0-5) at Ann Arbor, Mich.

No. 23 Kansas State 87, Missouri 44 -- The Wildcats (11-3, 2-1 Big 12) opened with an 11-0 run and routed the Tigers at Manhattan, Kan.

LaToya Bond lead Missouri (7-7, 1-2) with 14 points.