TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — Virginia Tech wasted no time establishing dominance on the road Thursday night, using a blistering first-quarter performance to set the tone for a decisive 79-54 victory over Florida State in Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

The Hokies, improving to 10-3 overall, exploded for 26 points in the opening period while holding the Seminoles to just 12, building a lead that would never be seriously threatened. The early surge was fueled by precise ball movement and stifling defense, as Virginia Tech capitalized on Florida State miscues to create easy scoring opportunities. The Seminoles, who fell to 4-9, struggled with offensive consistency and ball security throughout the contest, unable to mount a sustained challenge.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the opening ten minutes. Virginia Tech came out with an aggressive, disruptive defensive scheme that immediately put Florida State on its heels. The Hokies forced multiple early turnovers, converting them into transition baskets. Offensively, they executed with crisp passes and found open shooters, building a double-digit lead before the first media timeout. This early cushion allowed Virginia Tech to control the game’s tempo and rhythm, forcing Florida State to play from behind and disrupting any attempt to establish an interior presence or offensive flow. The Seminoles spent the remaining three quarters trying to chip away at a deficit that only grew, never getting closer than 14 points in the second half.

Virginia Tech guard Mackenzie Nelson orchestrated the victory with a masterful performance, scoring 18 points and dishing out 12 assists. Her playmaking was central to the Hokies’ efficient offense, particularly in the first half as they built their commanding lead. Forward Carys Baker provided a potent scoring punch with a game-high 21 points, while Mel Daley added 16. The Hokies’ balanced attack and defensive intensity, which held Florida State to 28 percent shooting from the field, proved too much for the home team.

Florida State was led by Jasmine Shavers, who scored 19 points. Tatum Greene contributed six points, two assists and two blocks, but the Seminoles were hampered by 21 turnovers, which Virginia Tech converted into 28 points. The Hokies also dominated in the paint, outscoring Florida State 42-24.

The game defied pregame projections, as Florida State had been installed as a 2.5-point favorite with a 60.6 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system. The combined score of 133 points fell well under the over/under line of 152.5. An announced crowd of 1,277 watched the contest.

Virginia Tech will look to carry the momentum into a non-conference home game against Radford on Sunday. Florida State, seeking to halt a two-game skid, will host South Carolina State on Saturday.