HANOVER, N.H. (Interstat) — The Princeton Tigers delivered a defensive masterclass that turned into an offensive showcase, dismantling the Dartmouth Big Green 97-47 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Leede Arena on Friday night.

From the opening tip, Princeton imposed its will with a suffocating, turnover-forcing defense that fueled a relentless transition attack. The Tigers forced Dartmouth into 25 turnovers, converting those mistakes into a cascade of easy baskets that buried the home team early and never relented.

The most important part of the game was the opening quarter, where Princeton set a devastating tone. While the Tigers started somewhat slowly on offense, missing their first four shots, their defense was immediately disruptive. They forced three Dartmouth turnovers in the first three minutes, allowing them to establish a lead they would never come close to relinquishing. This early defensive pressure broke the game’s rhythm entirely in Princeton’s favor, creating a template of chaos that Dartmouth could not solve all evening. By the time the first quarter ended with Princeton leading 24-15, the outcome was effectively decided, and the Tigers were just beginning to accelerate.

The statistical dominance was comprehensive. Princeton shot 56.8% from the floor, dished out 20 assists and recorded a staggering 20 steals. Dartmouth managed only four assists against those 25 turnovers, a ratio that underscored Princeton’s defensive stranglehold. The Tigers also controlled the glass with 16 offensive rebounds, leading to numerous second-chance points.

Princeton’s offensive rating of 144.1 points per 100 possessions was a model of efficiency, starkly contrasted by Dartmouth’s rating of 68.9. The Tigers scored 97 points on just 67 possessions.

The scoring was distributed with typical Princeton balance. Skye Belker led the way with 14 points and five assists. Madison St. Rose and Emily Eadie each added 13 points, with St. Rose contributing four assists and four steals. Toby Nweke scored 12 points, Fadima Tall had 11 and Taylor Charles finished with 10 points and four blocks, anchoring the interior defense.

For Dartmouth, Jacalyn Myrthil scored nine points. The Big Green shot 37.8% from the field and were just 5 of 16 from three-point range.

The game was never in doubt after the first period. Princeton extended its lead to 40-26 by halftime before delivering a knockout blow in the third quarter, outscoring Dartmouth 32-12. The Tigers’ bench contributed 49 points as the rotation stayed deep throughout the second half.

With the victory, Princeton improved to 22-3 overall and strengthened its position atop the Ivy League. Dartmouth fell to 10-15.

Princeton faces a quick turnaround, traveling to face Harvard on Saturday. Dartmouth will remain at home to host Penn on Saturday.

The game was organized by the Ivy League and drew an attendance of 726.