SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — The Rhode Island Rams turned a tight Atlantic 10 contest into a decisive rout with a dominant fourth quarter, cruising past the Saint Louis Billikens 74-43 in women’s basketball action Sunday at the Ryan Center.

The Rams, who entered the game with a 20-2 record and a ELO-based win probability of 94.8%, saw their lead cut to just six points late in the third quarter before unleashing a game-ending 31-14 run. Rhode Island outscored Saint Louis 31-14 in the final period, showcasing the offensive efficiency and defensive pressure that has defined their season.

The game was a defensive struggle for three quarters, with Rhode Island holding a 43-29 lead entering the fourth. The Rams then exploded, shooting 11 of 17 from the field in the final 10 minutes while holding Saint Louis to just 5-of-16 shooting. Rhode Island’s 44-18 advantage in points in the paint underscored their control of the interior throughout the afternoon.

Sophia Vital, a guard from Cambridge, Massachusetts, led all scorers with 15 points, adding five rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes to pace the Rams. Her backcourt partner, Ines Debroise of Paris, France, directed the offense with a game-high seven assists. The Rams’ frontcourt was anchored by a double-double from 6-foot-5 center Albina Syla of Vantaa, Finland, who contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Saint Louis, which fell to 11-15 overall, was plagued by offensive struggles from the opening tip. The Billikens shot just 25.9% from the field and committed 14 turnovers, which Rhode Island converted into 15 points. Zya Nugent, a guard from Denison, Texas, led Saint Louis with 13 points and nine rebounds. Center Alyssa Koerkenmeier of Saint Rose, Illinois, grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

The most important sequence of the game came early in the fourth quarter, with Rhode Island leading 45-43. The Rams seized complete momentum with a 12-0 run over a three-minute span. The burst began with a layup from Vital and was fueled by back-to-back three-pointers from Valentina Ojeda of Punta Arenas, Chile, and another from Vital. Ojeda finished with 13 points off the bench, all in the second half. That flurry extended the lead to 57-43 and Saint Louis never recovered, managing just two field goals over the next seven minutes as the Rams continued to pull away.

Rhode Island’s defensive intensity was constant, recording nine steals and three blocks while limiting Saint Louis to an offensive rating of just 61.3 points per 100 possessions. The Rams were flawless from the free throw line, making all 11 of their attempts.

The victory improves Rhode Island to 21-2 overall and maintains their position atop the Atlantic 10 conference. The Rams have now won 10 of their last 11 games. Saint Louis has lost three straight and six of its last seven.

Rhode Island next hosts VCU on Wednesday. Saint Louis returns home to face Fordham, also on Wednesday.