DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — In a display of defensive tenacity and opportunistic offense, the College of Charleston women’s basketball team remained undefeated Tuesday night, pulling away from North Carolina Central for a 75-60 victory at McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium.

The Cougars, who never trailed, improved to 4-0 on the young season, while the Eagles fell to 1-3.

The game was ultimately decided by a stifling defensive effort from the visitors, who forced North Carolina Central into 25 turnovers and converted those miscues into 28 points. The Eagles, by contrast, managed just 14 points off 16 Charleston turnovers. The Cougars also dominated from the free-throw line, making 22 of 27 attempts, while the Eagles went to the stripe only four times, making a single shot.

Despite the final margin, the first half was a tightly contested affair. College of Charleston established an early lead, closing the first quarter up 17-14. The second quarter saw both offenses find a rhythm, with the Cougars putting up 21 points and the Eagles answering with 20. A key sequence just before halftime saw the Cougars’ Taylor Barbot convert a driving layup and a subsequent free throw, and after an Eagles turnover, Grace Ezebilo scored inside to give Charleston a 38-34 lead at the intermission.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point. The College of Charleston defense locked down, holding North Carolina Central to a mere eight points on 4-of-16 shooting from the floor while forcing seven turnovers. The Cougars, meanwhile, methodically built their lead, outscoring the Eagles 14-8 in the period to take a commanding 52-42 advantage into the final frame.

Any hope of an Eagles comeback was extinguished early in the fourth quarter as the Cougars’ offense exploded for 23 points. Charleston’s lead ballooned to as many as 18 points as they efficiently closed out the game, shooting 50% from the field in the final period.

The Barbot sisters from Floral Park, New York, led the way for the Cougars. Taylor Barbot, a 5-foot-9 guard, played all 40 minutes and filled the stat sheet with 17 points and 7 assists. Her sister, Taryn, a 5-foot-10 guard, added 14 points and 4 assists in 38 minutes of action.

They were complemented by strong performances from Sophia Tougas of Glens Falls, New York, and Grace Ezebilo of Nigeria. Tougas, a 6-foot forward, scored 14 points, while the 6-foot-1 Ezebilo controlled the paint with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

North Carolina Central was led by a balanced scoring attack. Durham native Aysia Hinton and Charlotte’s Aniya Finger each contributed 12 points, with Finger adding two blocks. Morgan Callahan of Beach Park, Illinois, and Victoria Morris of Rock Hill, South Carolina, each chipped in 10 points. Najah Lane, also from Charlotte, facilitated the offense with 9 assists but was hampered by 8 turnovers.

From a statistical perspective, the game was a study in contrasts. Both teams shot an identical 5-of-17 from three-point range, but the Cougars’ significant advantage in free-throw attempts and makes, coupled with their ability to generate extra possessions through 13 steals and 21 offensive rebounds, proved insurmountable for the Eagles. Charleston’s offensive rating of 90.6, while not elite, was markedly more efficient than North Carolina Central’s 73.3, underscoring the Eagles’ struggles to score against a persistent defense.

The announced attendance was 592.

College of Charleston will look to continue its perfect start on the road Friday at Quinnipiac. North Carolina Central returns to action Thursday at Wake Forest.