BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, overwhelming the visiting Niagara Purple Eagles 83-46 at a lively Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies, continuing their undefeated start to the season, established their dominance early and never relented. A 23-point first quarter set the tone, and a commanding 28-point second quarter effectively put the game out of reach by halftime, leading 51-20. The victory improved Virginia Tech’s record to 5-0, while Niagara remained winless at 0-4.

Virginia Tech’s offense operated with ruthless efficiency, converting 33 of 65 field goal attempts. The Hokies feasted in the paint, outscoring Niagara 48 to 22, and capitalized on a slew of Purple Eagle mistakes, turning 20 Niagara turnovers into 25 points. Defensively, Virginia Tech was equally disruptive, recording 13 steals and seven blocks.

The Hokies’ attack was a balanced effort, with six players scoring at least nine points. Kilah Freelon, a 6-foot-1 forward from Denver, Colorado, set the pace with 12 points and was a force on the glass. Guards Mackenzie Nelson of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Samyha Suffren of Charlotte, North Carolina, along with forward Mel Daley of Hastings, New York, each contributed 13 points. Nelson also orchestrated the offense with a game-high seven assists.

Niagara struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against the swarming Virginia Tech defense. The Purple Eagles shot just 35 percent from the field and a paltry 16 percent from beyond the arc. Tyasia Freeman, a 6-foot-2 forward from Waynesboro, Georgia, was a bright spot for the visitors, leading all scorers with 13 points. Caliana Fenceroy of Omaha, Nebraska, added four assists for Niagara.

The game was witnessed by an announced crowd of 4,099. Virginia Tech will look to extend its perfect record on the road Sunday against James Madison. Niagara continues its difficult road stretch Saturday at Radford.