CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge propelled by the backcourt duo of Taryn Barbot and Tyja Beans proved decisive as the College of Charleston women’s basketball team secured a 74-64 victory over Drexel in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup Friday night at TD Arena.

The Cougars, improving to 13-3 overall and strengthening their position in the conference, used a 23-point second period to build a commanding 36-27 halftime lead that the visiting Dragons could never fully overcome. Drexel, which fell to 8-7, mounted several challenges but was consistently answered by the offensive execution of Charleston, particularly from its starting guards.

The game’s pivotal stretch began late in the first quarter with the score tied at 13. Charleston closed the opening period on a 7-2 run, capped by a Taylor Barbot layup. The momentum carried into the second quarter, where the Cougars unleashed a 17-6 burst over a five-minute span. The run was fueled by defensive pressure that generated multiple Drexel turnovers, which Charleston efficiently converted into transition opportunities.

Taryn Barbot, a 5-foot-10 guard from Floral Park, New York, was the catalyst, scoring nine of her game-high 25 points during that decisive quarter. She also finished with six assists, orchestrating the offense and finding open teammates. Her backcourt partner, Tyja Beans of Daytona Beach, Florida, provided crucial support with 17 points, five assists and relentless defensive activity, contributing to Drexel’s 20 turnovers.

Drexel, led by the inside presence of Deja Evans and the perimeter scoring of Amaris Baker, refused to capitulate. Evans, a 6-2 center from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, recorded 14 points and three blocked shots, while Baker, a guard from Philadelphia, added a team-high 17 points. The Dragons cut the deficit to seven points on several occasions in the second half, including early in the fourth quarter when a Laine McGurk layup made it 56-49.

Each time Drexel threatened, Charleston had a response. Following McGurk’s basket, the Cougars scored on their next three possessions, with Beans hitting a jumper and Taylor Barbot converting a layup off a steal to push the lead back to 64-51 with 7:17 remaining. The Dragons made one final push, closing to within 70-64 after a Júlia Garcia Roig 3-pointer with 2:28 left, but could get no closer. Charleston sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final minutes.

Beyond the starring guards, Charleston received a significant contribution from forward Marissa Brown. The 6-foot sophomore from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, provided 11 points off the bench, all in the first half, helping to establish the lead that her team would protect throughout. Taylor Barbot, twin sister of Taryn, added 14 points and was a constant defensive nuisance.

For Drexel, McGurk finished with 15 points, but the Dragons struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm against Charleston’s defensive pressure. The Cougars scored 22 points off Drexel’s turnovers and outscored the Dragons 15-6 in second-chance points, underscoring the effort differential that defined the contest.

A crowd of 437 at TD Arena watched the Cougars win their third straight conference game and maintain their strong early-season form. Drexel, which had won two of its last three, will look to rebound quickly as it continues a road swing.

The most important part of the game was Charleston’s overwhelming second-quarter performance, a 23-16 frame that turned a narrow two-point lead into a durable nine-point halftime advantage. This stretch was defined by a stifling defensive effort that generated live-ball turnovers and easy transition baskets, allowing the Cougars to establish a tempo and a lead that dictated the remainder of the game. Drexel’s subsequent rallies were always against a cushion, forcing them to expend significant energy chasing a deficit that proved insurmountable against Charleston’s efficient and composed offensive execution.