BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant opening frame and a suffocating defensive effort, the Virginia Tech Hokies remained undefeated Saturday, dispatching the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 82 to 59 in a non-conference women’s basketball matchup at Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies seized control from the opening tip, exploding for 30 first-quarter points while holding the Chanticleers to just 13. Virginia Tech’s early surge was fueled by efficient offense and a disruptive defense that forced a cascade of Coastal Carolina mistakes. The Hokies capitalized on those miscues, scoring 31 points off 26 Coastal Carolina turnovers, a decisive statistic in the contest.

Virginia Tech’s offensive engine was Carleigh Wenzel, a sophomore guard from San Antonio, Texas, who orchestrated the victory with a double-double. Wenzel scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists in 38 minutes of action, consistently breaking down the Chanticleers’ defense. She was complemented by forward Kilah Freelon of Denver, Colorado, who added 18 points and eight rebounds, setting a physical tone in the paint.

Despite the lopsided start, Coastal Carolina showed resilience, particularly in the second and fourth quarters where they were outscored by a much narrower margin. The Chanticleers were led by a standout performance from Tracey Hueston, a Roanoke, Virginia native playing in her home state. The 6-foot-2 forward poured in a game-high 21 points and grabbed five rebounds. Guard D’Yanis Jimenez of Cape Coral, Florida, contributed 10 points and six assists.

The game’s most peculiar stretch came in the third quarter, where Virginia Tech’s offense went cold, managing only four points. However, the Hokies’ defense remained stout, limiting Coastal Carolina to just 12 points in the period, preventing any significant challenge to their lead. Virginia Tech then reasserted itself with a 25-point fourth quarter to put the game away.

Statistical disparities told the story of Virginia Tech’s comprehensive victory. The Hokies were nearly flawless from the free-throw line, converting 19 of 22 attempts, while the Chanticleers struggled mightily, making only 8 of 19. Virginia Tech also won the battle on the glass, securing 11 offensive rebounds to Coastal Carolina’s four, and protected the rim with six blocks compared to the Chanticleers’ two.

Other key contributors for the Hokies included Carys Baker of West Hartford, Connecticut, with 15 points and six rebounds, and Mackenzie Nelson of Greenwich, Connecticut, who chipped in 12 points. For Coastal Carolina, Kristin Williams of San Diego, California, scored 12 points.

With the win, Virginia Tech improved its record to 4 wins and 0 losses on the young season. The Hokies, who entered the game as overwhelming favorites according to advanced statistical models, have now won their first four games by an average of 27 points. They will look to continue their strong start when they host Niagara on Thursday.

Coastal Carolina fell to 2 wins and 3 losses with the defeat. The Chanticleers, who were coming off an 80 to 56 road victory over UNC Wilmington, will face a quick turnaround with a trip to face North Carolina State on Wednesday.

The announced attendance at Cassell Coliseum was 4,408.