ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, overwhelming the visiting Charleston Southern Buccaneers in a non-conference matchup at Hank McCamish Pavilion.

Fueled by a dominant first quarter and a balanced offensive attack, the Yellow Jackets secured an 87-40 victory in front of a crowd of 1,439. The win improved Georgia Tech’s record to 2-1 on the young season, while Charleston Southern remained winless, falling to 0-4.

The tone was set from the opening tip, which was won by Georgia Tech’s Brianna Turnage. The Yellow Jackets exploded for 25 points in the first quarter, establishing a 25-8 lead that they would only build upon as the game progressed. Charleston Southern struggled to find any offensive rhythm, managing just five points in the second quarter as Georgia Tech took a 41-13 lead into halftime.

The onslaught continued after the break, with the Yellow Jackets outscoring the Buccaneers 26-11 in the third period to put the game completely out of reach. Charleston Southern found slightly more success with 16 points in the final quarter, but it was far too little, too late against a relentless Georgia Tech squad.

Georgia Tech’s offense was powered by a standout performance from Talayah Walker. The 5-foot-10 guard from Odenton, Maryland, poured in a game-high 19 points in just 24 minutes of action, adding five rebounds and three assists. She was a constant threat from beyond the arc and in transition, spearheading the Yellow Jackets’ efficient scoring.

She was complemented by Catherine Alben, a 5-7 guard from Snellville, Georgia, who logged 30 minutes and contributed 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and a block. The backcourt duo of Walker and Alben proved to be too much for the Buccaneers to handle.

While the guards filled the scoring column, the frontcourt controlled the glass and facilitated the offense. Brianna Turnage, a 6-1 forward from Atlanta, was a force on the boards, hauling in 13 rebounds to go with six assists and three points. Her presence in the paint was instrumental in Georgia Tech’s defensive effort and in initiating fast breaks.

The interior dominance was further emphasized by Jada Crawshaw and D’Asia Thomas-Harris. Crawshaw, a 6-1 forward from Darwin, Australia, just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Thomas-Harris, a 6-2 forward from Katy, Texas, secured a double-double of her own with six points and 10 rebounds. Savannah Samuel, a 6-1 guard from Woodstock, Georgia, also reached double figures, chipping in 13 points.

For Charleston Southern, the offensive struggles were pervasive. The Buccaneers were led by Sydney Bradley, a 5-10 guard from Saint Louis, Missouri, who scored five points. Alaina Nettles, a 5-7 guard from Summerville, South Carolina, was active with six rebounds and three assists but was limited to just two points. Asha Sra, a 5-9 guard from Fresno, California, facilitated with five assists and eight rebounds but managed only a single point from the free-throw line.

The game’s trajectory was evident from the early moments. After Turnage secured the opening tip, Walker scored the first points of the game on a layup just 14 seconds in. Charleston Southern briefly responded with a Tyonna Bailey jumper to make it 2-2, but that would be the only time the score was close. Georgia Tech then embarked on a 23-6 run to close the first quarter, a stretch that included three-pointers from Ines Noguero and Catherine Alben, and established a lead the Buccaneers could never challenge.

The victory provides positive momentum for Georgia Tech as it looks ahead to a home game against Jacksonville on Sunday. Charleston Southern, still in search of its first win, will return home to host South Carolina State on Nov. 22.