PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by offensive inefficiency, the Rutgers women’s basketball team grinded out a 59-49 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.

The contest pitted the Scarlet Knights against the Knights in a matchup where points were at a premium. Rutgers improved its season record to four wins and one loss, while Fairleigh Dickinson fell to two wins and three losses.

Neither team shot the ball effectively. Rutgers converted 19 of its 52 field goal attempts, a 36.5 percent clip, while Fairleigh Dickinson was held to 18-of-55 shooting, or 32.7 percent. The difference came at the free-throw line, where the Scarlet Knights capitalized on their opportunities, making 16 of 21 attempts. Fairleigh Dickinson attempted only nine free throws, making six.

The game was a statistical anomaly, with both teams finishing with identical totals in assists and steals. Each squad recorded five assists and five steals, highlighting a game dominated by physical defense and disrupted offensive sets. Rutgers committed 16 turnovers, while Fairleigh Dickinson gave the ball away 15 times.

Zachara Perkins led all scorers for Rutgers, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. The 6-foot-3 forward from Houston, Texas, also added a block in 34 minutes of action. She was complemented by Imani Lester, a 6-foot-4 post player from Raleigh, North Carolina, who provided a crucial interior presence with 13 points and six rebounds in just 21 minutes.

For Fairleigh Dickinson, guard Ava Renninger was the primary offensive engine. The 5-foot-6 sophomore from Yardley, Pennsylvania, played the entire 40 minutes and scored a game-high 20 points. However, she received limited support, as the rest of the team combined for 29 points. Kailee McDonald, a 5-foot-9 guard from Lowell, Massachusetts, also went the distance, contributing six points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Rutgers established control in the paint, outscoring Fairleigh Dickinson 24 to 14, and also capitalized more effectively on mistakes, scoring 14 points off turnovers compared to the visitors’ eight.

The game was a stark contrast in offensive execution. Rutgers scored 59 points over 64 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 92.2. Fairleigh Dickinson’s offensive struggles were more pronounced, managing only 49 points from 62 possessions for an offensive rating of 78.7.

The Scarlet Knights’ victory was built on a foundation of rebounding and defense. Antonia Bates, a 6-foot-3 forward from Easton, Pennsylvania, hauled in 10 rebounds, and the team out-rebounded Fairleigh Dickinson overall, with a particular emphasis on the offensive glass where they held a 14 to 12 advantage.

Rutgers now looks ahead to a challenging road test at Auburn on Thursday. Fairleigh Dickinson returns home to face Delaware State on Wednesday.