PRINCETON, N.J. (Interstat) — Fadima Tall scored 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Princeton held off a late Villanova charge for an 81-74 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Tuesday at Jadwin Gymnasium. The Tigers improved to 4-0. The Wildcats fell to 0-1. Attendance was 651.

Tall, a 6-foot-1 guard from Silver Spring, Md., who previously attended Georgetown Visitation Prep, finished with one assist in 35 minutes. Jasmine Bascoe led Villanova with 29 points, five rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes. Bascoe, a 5-7 guard who previously attended Kings Christian Collegiate, was the Wildcats’ primary scorer throughout. Kennedy Henry added 23 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block in 34 minutes for Villanova. Henry, a 6-0 guard who previously attended Westtown School, made three 3-pointers and several late baskets. Skye Belker had 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks for Princeton. Belker, a 5-9 guard who previously attended Windward, made two early 3-pointers and later sealed the game at the line. Olivia Hutcherson added 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Hutcherson, a 6-0 guard who previously attended Holy Innocents Episcopal, scored on turnaround and driving layups. Emily Eadie had seven points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes for Princeton. Eadie, a 6-1 forward who previously attended Sage Hill, made a layup and free throws during the Tigers’ second-quarter run. Grace O’Sullivan scored nine points and added three rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes. O’Sullivan, a 6-0 guard who previously attended The Rivers School, made three 3-pointers. Ashley Chea had six points, six rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes. Chea, a 5-8 guard who previously attended Flintridge Prep, made a driving layup and a jump shot in the fourth quarter. Elise Bender scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in 17 minutes for Villanova. Bender, a 6-1 forward who previously attended Anthony Wayne High School, made a layup and free throw in the final minute. Kelsey Joens added seven points and two assists in 20 minutes. Joens, a 5-10 guard who previously attended West Liberty, made a 3-pointer and a floating jumper in the third quarter.

Princeton shot 25 of 48 from the floor, 7 of 16 from 3-point range and 24 of 30 from the free throw line. Villanova shot 28 of 70 from the floor, 7 of 28 from beyond the arc and 11 of 14 from the line. The Tigers had eight offensive rebounds, four assists, five blocks and 19 turnovers. The Wildcats had 11 offensive rebounds, 12 assists, four blocks and seven turnovers. Villanova scored 25 points off turnovers, while Princeton scored seven. Both teams scored 34 points in the paint. Each team had 73 possessions. Villanova posted an offensive rating of 101.9, and Princeton posted an offensive rating of 110.6.

The game featured an early exchange from beyond the arc. Grace O’Sullivan made a 3-pointer with 9:16 left in the first quarter, and Skye Belker followed with another 3-pointer for Princeton. Villanova answered with a Jasmine Bascoe 3-pointer that tied the score at 9. The lead changed hands several times in the opening quarter. Kennedy Henry made two free throws to tie the score at 6, and Bascoe made a layup to give Villanova a 15-14 edge. Princeton closed the first quarter with a Fadima Tall layup and a Tall 3-pointer to take a 21-17 lead.

Princeton extended its advantage in the second quarter. Olivia Hutcherson made a layup, O’Sullivan made another 3-pointer and Tall converted a layup as the Tigers moved ahead 28-17. Henry made a 3-pointer for Villanova, but Tall answered with free throws and a 3-pointer. Emily Eadie added a layup and a free throw, and Belker made a layup to help Princeton take a 40-29 lead at halftime. Villanova stayed within reach behind Bascoe, who made a pullup jumper and a 3-point stepback before Dani Ceseretti made two free throws.

Villanova made its push in the third quarter. Bascoe opened the scoring with a layup and later made a floating jumper and free throw. Her 3-pointer and another layup cut into Princeton’s lead. Kelsey Joens made a 3-pointer and a floating jumper for the Wildcats, and Henry made a layup late in the quarter. Princeton responded each time. Belker made two layups, Tall made a layup and a three-point play, O’Sullivan made a 3-pointer and Hutcherson made two layups. Tall’s three-point play with 1:35 left in the third quarter gave Princeton a 57-44 lead.

The Tigers carried a 57-48 advantage into the fourth quarter. Henry made a jumper, Bender made a layup and Bascoe made a jumper as Villanova pulled closer. Princeton steadied itself with free throws from Cristina Parrella and a driving layup from Ashley Chea. Tall made a driving layup and two free throws, and Eadie made a layup and two free throws to push Princeton’s lead to 68-58 with 3:08 remaining. Chea made a jumper with 2:31 left for a 70-58 cushion.

Villanova did not fade. Dani Ceseretti made two free throws, and Henry made a 3-pointer. Belker made two free throws for Princeton, but Bender made a layup and Henry made a layup and a 3-pointer to cut the deficit. Bascoe made a layup with 30 seconds left to bring Villanova within 76-71. Belker made two free throws, Bender made a layup and a free throw, and Tall made a free throw to keep Princeton ahead. Belker sealed the outcome with two free throws with 9.4 seconds left.

Villanova next hosts Merrimack, and Princeton next visits Pepperdine.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Villanova 68, Princeton 66. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Princeton with a 63.9 percent probability to win.