ATLANTA (Interstat) — In a game defined more by defensive resistance than offensive execution, the North Carolina women’s basketball team ground out a 54-46 victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday night at Hank McCamish Pavilion.

The Atlantic Coast Conference contest was a struggle for both teams from the opening tip. The Tar Heels improved to 16-5 overall, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 8-12.

The most decisive stretch of the game arrived in the third quarter. After the teams entered halftime tied at 24, North Carolina’s defense completely smothered the Georgia Tech attack. The Yellow Jackets managed just six points in the period on 2-of-15 shooting, committing four turnovers and missing all five of their three-point attempts. North Carolina, while not prolific, pieced together a 13-6 quarter to establish a 37-30 lead heading into the final frame. That seven-point cushion proved insurmountable for a cold-shooting Georgia Tech squad.

The entire game was an exercise in offensive frustration. North Carolina shot just 28.8% from the field, while Georgia Tech was only marginally better at 31.6%. Both teams were abysmal from beyond the arc; the Tar Heels made 4 of 18, and the Yellow Jackets hit a mere 2 of 20. The difference was found in second-chance opportunities and defensive playmaking. North Carolina dominated the offensive glass, hauling in 21 rebounds to Georgia Tech’s seven, leading to a 19-6 advantage in second-chance points.

Georgia Tech’s defense, anchored by a remarkable shot-blocking performance, kept them within reach. The Yellow Jackets swatted 11 Tar Heel attempts, with junior forward Brianna Turnage of Atlanta accounting for nine of those blocks, a towering defensive presence that altered countless other shots. Turnage finished with seven points, two assists and nine blocks in 39 minutes.

North Carolina’s effort was more balanced. Guard Lanie Grant of Midlothian, Virginia, led all scorers with 11 points. Finnish guard Elina Aarnisalo provided a crucial spark off the bench with 10 points and four assists. Forward Ciera Toomey of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, added nine points, three blocks and was instrumental on the glass.

For Georgia Tech, Talayah Walker of Odenton, Maryland, shouldered the scoring load with 14 points. Catherine Alben of Snellville, Georgia, provided a late lift with seven points off the bench.

The Tar Heels’ defensive pressure, which generated nine steals and forced 12 turnovers, ultimately allowed them to control the tempo and secure the win despite their own shooting woes. Georgia Tech’s offensive rating of 68.4 points per 100 possessions underscored the difficulty of the night for their offense.

A crowd of 1,933 watched as North Carolina methodically closed out the game in the fourth quarter, answering every Georgia Tech push. The victory keeps the Tar Heels in the upper tier of the ACC as they prepare to host Syracuse on Sunday. Georgia Tech will look to regroup on the road at Florida State, also on Sunday.