SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant fourth-quarter defensive stand, the NJIT Highlanders outlasted the Saint Thomas Tommies 68-63 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Schoenecker Arena.

Marissa Gingrich scored a game-high 22 points to lead NJIT, which improved to 4-1 on the young season. The Tommies, still in search of their first win, fell to 0-4.

The Highlanders appeared to be in control early, racing out to a 22-21 lead after a fast-paced first quarter. Gingrich was instrumental from the opening tip, hitting a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession and scoring 11 points in the period. The Tommies kept pace behind a balanced attack, but the second quarter saw the home team begin to seize momentum. Saint Thomas outscored NJIT 19-13 in the frame, taking a 40-35 lead into halftime.

The third quarter remained tight, with Saint Thomas extending its lead to as many as seven points. A 3-pointer from Saint Thomas’ Jada Hood with 16 seconds left in the period gave the Tommies a 56-46 advantage, their largest of the game, heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged entirely to the NJIT defense. The Highlanders held Saint Thomas to just seven points on 2-of-12 shooting from the floor over the final 10 minutes, while forcing six Tommies turnovers. NJIT opened the quarter with a 14-0 run to reclaim a lead it would not relinquish.

Gingrich keyed the comeback, scoring nine of her points in the fourth, including a crucial 3-pointer with 3:44 remaining that extended the Highlander lead to five. Olivia Kulyk added 14 points for NJIT, and Allison Cannon chipped in 10 points and four assists.

Despite the loss, Saint Thomas won several statistical categories, including assists (14-8) and steals (14-8). The Tommies were led by Savannah McGowan with 14 points and Alyssa Sand, who posted 12 points and seven rebounds. However, Saint Thomas was plagued by poor free-throw shooting, converting just 16 of 25 attempts from the line.

NJIT’s efficiency proved decisive. The Highlanders shot 55.3 percent from the floor and a near-perfect 10 for 11 from the free-throw line. They also dominated scoring in the paint, outpacing the Tommies 40-26.

The announced attendance was 389. NJIT will look to continue its strong start when it hosts Saint Peter’s on Wednesday. Saint Thomas travels to face Alaska Anchorage on Friday.