WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Interstat) — GiGi Gamble erupted for a career-high 41 points, fueling a dominant fourth-quarter surge as the Monmouth Hawks rallied to defeat the Towson Tigers 83-77 in a women’s college basketball game on Thursday night at the Multipurpose Activity Center.

The contest was a tale of two halves, with the visiting Tigers controlling the tempo for three quarters before the Hawks, led by their sophomore guard from Somerset, New Jersey, unleashed a 29-point final period to secure the comeback victory before a crowd of 542.

Towson, which led by as many as nine points in the third quarter, entered the final period clinging to a 57-54 advantage. The game remained a one-possession affair until the midway point of the fourth, when Monmouth seized control with a decisive 11-2 run. Gamble was the catalyst, hitting a deep 3-pointer and a floating jumper before assisting on an Alexis Andrews triple that pushed the Hawks’ lead to 72-64 with just over five minutes remaining.

The Tigers, who fell to 16-13, fought to stay within striking distance behind the efforts of Thalia Shepard and India Johnston. A Shepard 3-pointer cut the deficit to 79-77 with 1:24 left, marking the final time Towson would be within one possession. Monmouth closed the game at the free-throw line, making four of its final six attempts in the last 27 seconds to seal the win.

Gamble’s performance was a staggering departure from her recent outings, where she had been held to single-digit scoring in three of her last four games. She shot 14 of 28 from the field, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, and added nine free throws. Her 41 points were the centerpiece of a highly efficient Monmouth offense that posted an offensive rating of 110.4 points per 100 possessions, compared to Towson’s 99.4.

The Hawks improved to 20-10 overall and avenged a narrow 56-53 loss to the Tigers in the teams’ previous meeting on Jan. 16. Monmouth’s victory was also its third straight.

Shepard, a guard from Boston, led Towson with 20 points, while Johnston, from Bear, Delaware, contributed 19 points and a game-high five assists. Masyn Marchbanks added 12 points and Semaya Turner had 11 for the Tigers, who shot a respectable 42.9% from the field but were ultimately undone by Monmouth’s superior 50.9% shooting clip and a 16-point disparity in the final quarter.

The game’s most critical sequence occurred with just under six minutes to play and Monmouth leading 68-66. After a Towson turnover, Gamble drilled a contested 3-pointer from the wing to extend the lead to five. On the ensuing possession, she drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and sank all three free throws, suddenly creating an eight-point cushion that Towson could not overcome. That personal 6-0 run by Gamble in a span of 30 seconds transformed a tense finish into a comfortable margin for the home team.

Andrews supported Gamble with 14 points for Monmouth, and Alexis Davis provided a crucial interior presence with 11 points and seven rebounds. Maria Amaro, hailing from Faro, Portugal, chipped in five points, two assists and two blocks.

Both teams committed 13 turnovers, but Monmouth capitalized more effectively on its opportunities, scoring 20 points off Towson’s miscues. The Hawks also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Tigers 44-30.

Towson will look to rebound quickly as it hosts Drexel on Saturday in its regular-season finale. Monmouth concludes its regular season on the same day, traveling to face Hofstra.