TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by rugged defense and rebounding dominance, the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team secured a crucial Atlantic Coast Conference road victory, defeating Florida State 80-69 on Sunday at Donald L. Tucker Center.

The Yellow Jackets, who entered the game with a 9-12 record, leaned on a monumental performance from forward Brianna Turnage and a decisive edge at the free-throw line to snap a two-game skid and hand the Seminoles their third consecutive loss, dropping Florida State to 7-14.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the second quarter, as Georgia Tech transformed a narrow contest into a lead it would never relinquish. With the Yellow Jackets clinging to a 23-21 advantage, guard Catherine Alben, a reserve from Snellville, Georgia, ignited a critical 10-2 run. Alben converted a steal into a layup, then moments later, buried a 3-pointer to push the lead to seven. She capped her personal burst with another 3-pointer off an assist from Ariadna Termis, giving Georgia Tech a 33-23 cushion with 5:38 remaining in the half. The Seminoles struggled to counter, managing just two field goals over the final six minutes of the quarter as the Yellow Jackets took a 35-33 lead into halftime.

Georgia Tech maintained control throughout the second half, methodically extending its lead by consistently earning trips to the foul line and dominating the glass. The Yellow Jackets attempted 32 free throws, making 26, while Florida State went 13 of 16 from the stripe. The rebounding disparity was stark, with Georgia Tech holding a 49-41 overall advantage and a 12-8 edge on the offensive boards, leading to 14 second-chance points.

Turnage, a 6-foot-1 junior from Atlanta, was the engine for Georgia Tech, delivering a dominant all-around performance with 18 rebounds, seven points, two assists and a block in 40 minutes. Her work on the glass, including six offensive rebounds, stifled Florida State’s opportunities and fueled the Yellow Jackets’ offensive possessions.

She was complemented by guard Talayah Walker, who scored a game-high 24 points and added eight rebounds. Savannah Samuel provided a vital offensive spark off the bench with 15 points, and Erica Moon chipped in 11 points and five rebounds. Alben’s timely contribution was her 11 points, all scored in the first half during the pivotal run.

Florida State was led by Solè Williams with 18 points and six rebounds. Pania Davis, the 6-foot-6 center from Perth, Australia, recorded 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while Amaya Bonner added 14 points and four assists. The Seminoles’ offense was hampered by inefficiency, shooting just 35.7% from the field and 28.6% from 3-point range. Their eight blocks and seven steals were offset by 13 turnovers, which Georgia Tech converted into eight points.

The game was a defensive struggle for long stretches, with both teams posting offensive ratings below the national average. Georgia Tech scored 80 points on 79 possessions for a rating of 101.0, while Florida State managed just 69 points on the same number of possessions for an 87.8 rating.

Entering the contest, Florida State was a slight 1.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and statistical models gave the Seminoles a 62.7% probability of winning. The combined score of 149 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 146.5.

The victory provides a positive start to a challenging stretch for Georgia Tech, which travels to face Syracuse on Thursday. Florida State looks to regroup on the road at Clemson next Sunday.