PRINCETON, N.J. (Interstat) — Powered by a dominant fourth-quarter surge and a career-high 28 points from Fadima Tall, the Princeton Tigers pulled away from the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for an 81-63 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Jadwin Gymnasium.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,186, was a tale of contrasting halves and ultimately, contrasting fortunes. For three quarters, Rutgers hung tough, trailing by just six points entering the final period. But Princeton exploded for 30 points in the fourth, overwhelming the Scarlet Knights with a 21-4 run over a decisive six-minute span to turn a competitive contest into a lopsided result.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably Princeton’s fourth-quarter eruption. Leading 51-45 after three, the Tigers immediately extinguished any hopes of a Rutgers comeback. The period began with Ashley Chea converting two free throws, followed quickly by a technical foul on Rutgers’ Imani Lester. Madison St. Rose sank both technical free throws, and on the ensuing possession, Chea buried a 3-pointer. In a devastating 40-second sequence, Princeton’s lead ballooned from six to 13 points.

Rutgers, visibly rattled, never recovered. The Tigers’ offense operated with ruthless efficiency, while their defense forced the Scarlet Knights into rushed shots and turnovers. Tall, a 6-foot junior from Silver Spring, Maryland, was the catalyst throughout, but particularly in the clinching run, scoring 11 of her points in the final quarter. Her stepback 3-pointer with 6:06 remaining pushed the lead to 64-55, and another long-range shot with 2:23 left made it 78-71, effectively sealing the outcome.

Tall’s 28-point performance, supplemented by three assists, came on a night where she consistently attacked the rim and capitalized from the perimeter. She was supported by a balanced Princeton attack as Chea and Olivia Hutcherson each added 16 points. Chea, a sophomore guard from Montebello, California, also had three assists, while Hutcherson, a junior from Johns Creek, Georgia, contributed two assists and a block. St. Rose finished with 11 points and three assists.

For Rutgers, the loss was a stark contrast to its strong start. The Scarlet Knights led early, fueled by the hot shooting of guard Kaylah Ivey. Ivey, a sophomore from Forestville, Maryland, scored 15 points, all from beyond the arc, and dished out four assists. Her backcourt partner, Nene Ndiaye, a senior from Saly, Senegal, led Rutgers with 20 points.

Rutgers opened the game with precision, building a 19-13 lead midway through the first quarter behind Ivey’s trio of 3-pointers. Princeton responded with an 8-0 run to end the quarter, capped by a Tall 3-pointer, to take a 21-19 lead. The second quarter was a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for only 27 points. Princeton maintained a slim 36-31 advantage at halftime.

The Scarlet Knights stayed within striking distance in the third, with Imani Lester providing an interior presence. Lester, a sophomore from Raleigh, North Carolina, scored 14 points and blocked two shots. But the team’s offense stagnated in the face of Princeton’s intensified defensive pressure in the final period, managing only two field goals in the first seven minutes as the Tigers built their insurmountable lead.

With the win, Princeton improved its season record to 10-1, continuing its strong start under coach Carla Berube. The Tigers have now won three straight since their only loss of the season. Rutgers fell to 7-4, unable to build momentum after a 79-36 loss to Iowa in its previous outing.

Princeton finished the game shooting efficiently from the field, while Rutgers struggled with its consistency. The Tigers also capitalized on Rutgers’ mistakes, converting turnovers into points during the critical fourth-quarter stretch.

Princeton next travels to face George Mason on Saturday, Dec. 20. Rutgers returns home to host Lafayette on the same date. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Princeton entered the game with a 97.10 percent probability to win, a projection the Tigers fulfilled with their commanding finish.