BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a dominant season-opening performance Tuesday night, the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team overwhelmed Towson, cruising to a 100-56 victory at Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies seized control early, outscoring the Tigers 22-13 in the first quarter and never looked back. The game was decisively put out of reach in the third quarter, where Virginia Tech erupted for 34 points while holding Towson to just 12, turning a 41-30 halftime lead into a 75-42 blowout entering the final period.

Virginia Tech’s offense operated with ruthless efficiency, scoring 100 points on 89 possessions for an offensive rating of 112.0. The Hokies shot 37 for 76 from the floor and capitalized on 23 of 30 attempts from the free-throw line. Their defense was equally formidable, forcing 17 Towson turnovers and converting them into numerous transition opportunities.

The Hokies’ effort was a balanced one, led by a double-double from Kayl Petersen, who scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in just 18 minutes of play. Kilah Freelon also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Carleigh Wenzel filled the stat sheet with 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and two blocks, while Mackenzie Nelson directed the offense with nine points and a game-high seven assists. Samyha Suffren provided a spark off the bench with 12 points and Mel Daley added 11.

Towson, which fell to 0-1, struggled offensively throughout the contest. The Tigers shot 20 of 65 from the field and a dismal 12 of 23 from the foul line. They managed only five assists against 17 turnovers and were outrebounded 50-34 by the taller, more physical Hokies.

Zoli Khalil led the Tigers with 13 points and three blocks. Viki Matulevicius, a 5-foot-8 guard from Willowbrook, Illinois, added nine points and three rebounds in the losing effort.

A crowd of 4,184 watched as Virginia Tech, now 1-0, lived up to its lofty preseason expectations, entering the game as a projected winner with a 98 percent probability according to Interstat’s ELO system.

Virginia Tech next hosts Loyola Maryland on Sunday. Towson returns home to face Frostburg State on Friday.