ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Princeton Tigers, sparked by a dominant double-double from Fadima Tall and a decisive fourth-quarter surge, defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 67-61 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Hank McCamish Pavilion.

In a contest where neither team could establish a commanding lead through three quarters, the Tigers outscored the Yellow Jackets 24-11 in the final period to overcome a late deficit and secure a hard-fought road victory in front of 1,809 fans. The win, which defied a pregame projection that favored the home team, handed Georgia Tech its first loss of the young season.

Princeton, opening its 2025-26 campaign, improved to 1-0, while Georgia Tech moved to an even 1-1 after a dominant win over Radford earlier in the week.

The game was a tale of contrasting strengths. Princeton’s victory was built on a foundation of defensive pressure and capitalizing on mistakes. The Tigers scored 27 points off turnovers, a stark 17-point advantage over Georgia Tech in that critical category. The Yellow Jackets, conversely, struggled to convert Princeton’s miscues into points, managing only 10 points off turnovers.

Fadima Tall was the engine for Princeton, delivering a powerhouse performance. The 6-foot sophomore from Silver Spring, Maryland, logged 34 minutes and posted a stat line of 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, controlling the glass and providing a consistent interior presence. Her double-double was the cornerstone of Princeton’s effort.

She was ably supported by a strong all-around performance from the Tigers’ lineup. Olivia Hutcherson, a 5-11 guard playing a homecoming game of sorts in her native Johns Creek, Georgia, contributed 15 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes. Madison St. Rose, a 5-10 guard from Old Bridge, New Jersey, filled the box score with 13 points, five rebounds, and a team-high four assists. Ashley Chea, the 5-8 floor general from Montebello, California, played a game-high 39 minutes, directing the offense and adding 12 points.

Georgia Tech was led by the backcourt scoring of Catherine Alben, a 5-7 guard from nearby Snellville, Georgia, who poured in 15 points. Ines Noguero, a 5-11 guard from Gijon, Spain, was a key contributor with 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block. The Yellow Jackets’ interior was anchored by Brianna Turnage, a 6-1 forward from Atlanta, who grabbed 10 rebounds to go with five points, and 6-6 center Ariadna Termis of Zaragoza, Spain, who impacted the game with seven rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots despite scoring only two points.

The game began with Georgia Tech seizing early control. The Yellow Jackets used an efficient first quarter to take a 15-8 lead, putting the visiting Tigers on their heels from the opening tip. Princeton responded in the second quarter, finding its offensive rhythm to outscore Georgia Tech 20-17. However, the Yellow Jackets maintained a slim three-point advantage, leading 32-28 as the teams headed to the locker rooms at halftime.

The third quarter saw Georgia Tech extend its lead. The Yellow Jackets won the period 18-15, pushing their lead to six points, 50-43, heading into the final ten minutes. Facing a deficit on the road, the Tigers mounted their comeback.

Princeton’s defense tightened significantly in the fourth quarter, stifling the Georgia Tech offense and holding the Yellow Jackets to just 11 points. Simultaneously, the Tiger offense erupted for 24 points, their highest-scoring quarter of the game. The combination of defensive stops and efficient scoring allowed Princeton to steadily erase the deficit, overtake Georgia Tech, and pull away in the game’s closing minutes to clinch the six-point victory.

Beyond the points off turnovers, Princeton also held an advantage in points in the paint, outscoring Georgia Tech 34-28, a testament to the work of Tall and her teammates in the post.

Looking ahead, Princeton will look to build on its opening win with a quick turnaround. The Tigers travel to face Villanova on Wednesday before a high-profile matchup at Maryland on Saturday. Their schedule remains challenging, with upcoming games against Rice, Penn State in the Bahamas, and a home contest against Rutgers in early December.

Georgia Tech will aim to rebound from its first loss when it returns to Hank McCamish Pavilion to host Charleston Southern on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets then face a stretch that includes a road game against in-state rival Georgia and a neutral-site game in Canada against Saint John’s before entering a difficult stretch of road contests at Florida, Texas A&M, and West Virginia in early December.