PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game defined by early chaos and a decisive second-half response, the Indiana women’s basketball team secured a 79-69 victory over Rutgers on Wednesday night at a subdued Louis Brown Athletic Center.

The Hoosiers, now 16-12 overall, weathered a sloppy and turnover-prone first quarter to methodically take control in the second half, snapping a two-game road losing streak. Rutgers, which led after a high-scoring opening period, fell to 9-18 despite a spirited effort that kept the game within reach until the final minutes.

The contest’s most critical sequence unfolded not in the closing moments, but across the second and third quarters as Indiana systematically erased an early deficit and built an insurmountable lead. After a disjointed start that saw the teams combine for 39 points and numerous turnovers in the first quarter, with Rutgers holding a 22-17 advantage, the game pivoted dramatically in the second period.

Indiana’s defense stiffened, holding the Scarlet Knights to just 12 points in the quarter. Meanwhile, the backcourt duo of Shay Ciezki and Maya Makalusky began to find their rhythm. Ciezki, a guard from Buffalo, New York, hit a crucial 3-pointer early in the quarter to ignite a 13-2 Indiana run that flipped the script. The Hoosiers clamped down, forcing Rutgers into contested shots and capitalizing on the other end to take a 30-28 lead late in the half before settling for a 30-34 halftime deficit, having trailed by as many as seven in the first quarter.

The third quarter cemented Indiana’s control. Emerging from halftime with a two-point lead, the Hoosiers delivered their most efficient offensive stretch, pouring in 22 points. Makalusky, a forward from Fishers, Indiana, was instrumental, drawing fouls and converting all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, then later adding a key triple. Inside presence Nevaeh Caffey of Warrenton, Missouri, provided consistent scoring around the basket, helping Indiana extend its lead to 52-56 heading into the final frame.

Rutgers, led by Zachara Perkins’ 15 points and Nene Ndiaye’s 14, refused to capitulate. The Scarlet Knights pulled within four points midway through the fourth quarter after a Lauryn Swann jumper made it 64-60. However, Indiana answered immediately with a defining 7-0 run. Ciezki sank a deep 3-pointer, and after a Rutgers basket, Makalusky hit another three while being fouled, completing the four-point play to push the lead to 71-62 with under four minutes to play. Rutgers would not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Ciezki finished with a game-high 21 points in 40 minutes of action, while Makalusky added 19. Lenée Beaumont contributed 12 points and four assists for Indiana, and Caffey filled the stat sheet with 14 points, two assists and a block. For Rutgers, Swann joined Perkins and Ndiaye in double figures with 14 points, and Kaylah Ivey battled for 10 points and two assists in a full 40-minute outing.

The win provides momentum for Indiana as it returns home to face Penn State on Saturday. Rutgers, still seeking consistency in a difficult season, hits the road to take on Nebraska the same day.

The announced attendance was 2,739.