PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge propelled the Providence women’s basketball team to a 70-61 victory over Boston College on Saturday afternoon at Dunkin’ Center.

The Friars, playing in front of an announced crowd of 714, erased an early deficit with a 24-point second period, turning a six-point hole after one quarter into an eight-point halftime lead they would not relinquish.

Providence improved its record to 2-1, while Boston College fell to 3-2.

The game was ultimately decided by Providence’s commanding performance in the paint and its ability to capitalize on Boston College’s ball-handling struggles. The Friars outscored the Eagles 34-16 in the paint and scored 16 points off of Boston College’s 19 turnovers. Providence also dished out eight assists compared to just three for the visitors and recorded eight steals and five blocks.

Sabou Gueye was the catalyst for the Friars, delivering a powerhouse performance with 16 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Her presence on both ends of the floor was a constant challenge for the Eagles.

She was complemented superbly by Payton Dunbar, who led all scorers with 22 points, including four three-pointers. Teneisia Brown provided a strong interior presence with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Orlagh Gormley orchestrated the offense with five assists and was a disruptive force on defense with four steals.

Boston College was led by Lily Carmody’s 18 points. Erin Houpt provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, all in the first half, while Amirah Anderson pulled down eight rebounds.

The Eagles started strong, opening the game on a 7-0 run and leading 16-10 after the first quarter. Their early success was built on defensive pressure, forcing several Providence turnovers.

The momentum shifted decisively in the second quarter. With the score tied at 19, Providence unleashed a 15-2 run, fueled by Dunbar’s sharpshooting and Gueye’s interior play. Dunbar hit two three-pointers during the stretch, and Gueye added a layup and an assist as the Friars seized control.

Boston College struggled to find any offensive rhythm in the period, scoring just 11 points and committing seven turnovers. The Eagles went into halftime trailing 34-27.

Providence extended its lead in the third quarter, pushing the advantage to as many as 13 points. Every time Boston College threatened to cut into the lead, the Friars had an answer, often from Dunbar or Gueye.

The Eagles made a final push in the fourth quarter, closing to within five points on multiple occasions. A three-pointer from Jocelyne Grier made it 64-61 with just over three minutes to play, but Boston College would not score again.

Providence sealed the game at the free-throw line, with Gormley and Brown combining to make five of six attempts in the final minute to secure the nine-point victory.

Statistically, Providence shot 26 for 54 from the field for 48 percent, while Boston College was 20 for 53 for 38 percent. The Eagles did find success from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 25 three-point attempts, but it was not enough to overcome their turnover issues and Providence’s interior dominance.

Boston College will look to rebound when it hosts Harvard on Wednesday. Providence returns to action Tuesday at home against Northeastern.