BLACKSBURG, VA. -- Taylor Emery scored 23 points and Virginia Tech used a strong second quarter to take command en route to a 92-65 victory over Furman in Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) first round  basketball action Thursday evening at Cassell Coliseum.

The win improves Virginia Tech to 21-11 on the season while Furman completes its season at 19-14, the 19 wins matching a season high under ninth-year head coach Jackie Carson.

After battling to a 22-22 deadlock after one quarter, the Hokies opened the second period with a 9-2 run, fueled by two Emery baskets, to take a 31-24 lead four minutes into the period.

Leading 45-31 at the half, Virginia Tech used a 13-0 third quarter blitz, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Emery and Dara Mabrey, to take total control, Mabrey's trey stretching the Hokies' advantage to 63-40 with 1:55 remaining in the period.

Emery connected on 10-of-19 shots, including 3-of-7 3-point attempts, for her game high scoring tally.  Mabrey followed with 18 points, connecting on 6-of-7 treys. Regan McGarity had 14 points, and Trinity Baptiste rounded out Virginia Tech's double figure scoring effort with 13 points.

The Hokies, who entered the game shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc, made 14-of-34 3-point attempts (41.2 percent) and finished the contest at 51.5 percent from the field (35x68).

Taylor Petty followed up her season high 22-point performance against Mercer in the Southern Conference Championship game with a team high 18 points versus the Hokies, knocking down 7-of-14 shots and 3-of-7 from 3-point range.

Celena Taborn and Jade Kirisome tallied 10 points apiece for Furman.

Playing in her final game as a Paladin, senior forward Kaitlyn Duncan registered six points to go along 10 rebounds and four blocks.  Her four rejections gave her 149 for her career, good for third all-time in Furman history.