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Wheeler, Rutgers down Louisville in OT

Jan 14, 2012 - 10:02 PM Piscataway, NJ (Sports Network) - Erica Wheeler drained a go-ahead three- pointer with 1:13 left in overtime, helping No. 8 Rutgers pull out a 71-68 victory against No. 16 Louisville.

Wheeler finished with 23 points for the Scarlet Knights (15-2, 4-0 Big East), who have won six in a row. April Sykes added 19 and Monique Oliver scored 17 in the victory.

Freshman Shawnta' Dyer had 16 points to lead the Cardinals (14-4, 2-2), who have dropped two of three.

Louisville lost Saturday's game after blowing a double-digit lead. It was ahead 41-28 after Becky Burke made three foul shots with 16:29 to play, the largest lead either team had the entire game.

But Sykes followed with a jumper and drilled a three-pointer moments later, and Rutgers continued to whittle down its deficit quickly. Sykes' jumper with 12:13 remaining pulled the Scarlet Knights within 43-39.

After Khadijah Rushdan sank a layup with 7:46 left, tying the score at 48-48, the contest was back-and-forth the rest of the way.

The game went to overtime after Rutgers didn't take advantage of numerous opportunities in the final minutes.

With 1:36 to play in regulation, Oliver made 1-of-2 free throws to give the hosts a 59-58 edge. After the Cardinals' Bria Smith made two foul shots with 29 seconds left, Wheeler got to the line and had a chance to put Rutgers back in front. But she also made just 1-of-2.

The Scarlet Knights had another chance to take the lead when Shoni Schimmel turned the ball over at the other end, but Sykes and Wheeler missed jumpers.

But Wheeler came through in the extra period, when her three-pointer made it a 70-68 contest. Burke then turned the ball over, and Smith missed a potential tying layup with three seconds to play. Rushdan made 1-of-2 foul shots to secure the victory.