PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — In a hard-fought, defensive-minded contest at a raucous Louis Brown Center on Thursday afternoon, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights held off a persistent challenge from the Rhode Island Rams to secure a 68-63 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball matchup.

A crowd of 6,829 watched as the Scarlet Knights improved their record to 3-1, while the Rams suffered their first loss of the season, also moving to 3-1.

The game was ultimately decided by efficiency, as Rutgers made the most of its opportunities. Despite committing nearly twice as many turnovers as Rhode Island, the Scarlet Knights shot a blistering 47 percent from the floor and 43 percent from three-point range. Rhode Island, by contrast, struggled to find its shooting touch, managing just 37 percent from the field and a frigid 19 percent from beyond the arc.

Rutgers set the tone early, leveraging a potent inside-out attack to build a 21-13 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Scarlet Knights’ offensive momentum continued in the second period, where they extended their advantage, taking a 40-31 lead into the halftime break.

The catalyst for the Scarlet Knights was sophomore Nene Ndiaye, who put on a spectacular scoring display. The native of Saly, Senegal, poured in 24 points on efficient shooting, adding five rebounds and three assists to spearhead the Rutgers offense. Her ability to score at all three levels kept the Rhode Island defense off balance throughout the evening.

Rhode Island refused to capitulate, chipping away at the deficit in the third quarter. The Rams’ defense tightened, and they managed to outscore Rutgers 17-15 in the period to narrow the gap. The comeback effort was led by the duo of Palmire Mbu and Brooklyn Gray. Mbu, a junior from Lille, France, was a force in the paint, finishing with 17 points and five rebounds. Gray, a guard from Rockford, Illinois, led all Rams scorers with 18 points.

The fourth quarter evolved into a tense, back-and-forth affair. Every time Rhode Island threatened to draw even, Rutgers had an answer, often from Ndiaye or a key defensive stop. The Rams’ offensive execution down the stretch was hampered by their season-long struggle to generate assists, finishing with just three as a team for the entire game.

While the Rams’ backcourt provided the scoring, their frontcourt anchored the defense. Albina Syla, the 6-foot-5 center from Vantaa, Finland, controlled the glass with 10 rebounds and protected the rim with a block.

For Rutgers, the victory was a collective effort beyond Ndiaye’s standout performance. Senior guard Kaylah Ivey of Forestville, Maryland, played a game-high 39 minutes, contributing 13 points and three assists while serving as the primary ball-handler. The Scarlet Knights also dominated the interior, with Janae Walker of Tyrone, Georgia, pulling down 10 rebounds and Zachara Perkins of Houston, Texas, adding 12 points and two blocks.

The game’s statistical profile highlighted the contrasting styles. Rhode Island’s offense, which scored 63 points from 68 possessions for an offensive rating of 92.0, was plagued by inefficiency. Rutgers, meanwhile, was far more effective with the ball, posting 68 points from just 64 possessions for a robust offensive rating of 107.1. The Scarlet Knights also won the battle on the offensive glass, securing 10 rebounds to Rhode Island’s seven.

The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Rhode Island, which had opened its season with dominant victories over Manhattan, Merrimack and Emmanuel. Rutgers, meanwhile, bounced back from a surprising home loss to Stony Brook in its previous outing.

Both teams return to the court quickly. Rhode Island will host Albany on Saturday, looking to get back on track. Rutgers will remain at home to face Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday.