The Georgetown women’s basketball team started its season on a high note Tuesday, beating the Howard Bison 93-41 in James Howard’s first win as head coach of the Hoyas.

Georgetown put together two strong halves and cruised its way to the first victory of the 2017-18 season, more than doubling Howard’s (0-2) point total of 41.

As a team, the Hoyas shot 40.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from long distance and 75 percent from the free throw line. Despite a relatively low field goal percentage, Georgetown pulled down 20 offensive boards and forced 26 turnovers, leading to 10 more shot attempts and nine more free throw attempts than Howard.

“We came out on fire and focused,” Howard said in an interview with GUHoyas, the Georgetown athletics site. “I don’t know what percentage we shot from the floor early on in the first half, but it seemed like lights out.”

Junior guard Dionna White, a unanimous Big East Conference preseason honoree, led the team with 27 points on 8-14 shooting from the field and 4-6 from behind the arc.  She had 24 of the team’s 55 points in the first half, while adding six rebounds, five steals and four assists.

“Dionna White was in a zone, and that opened up a lot of things for us,” Howard said.

A number of other Hoyas had great performances also in the blowout victory. Senior forward Cynthia Petke had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, and senior center Yazmine Belk contributed nine points and 10 rebounds. Together, Petke and Belk showed signs of being a dynamic frontcourt duo.

Freshman Tatiana Thompson scored 14 points and had six rebounds in her college debut, while starting guards Didi Burton and Mikayla Venson combined for nine assists in the contest.

In addition to the offensive explosion, the Hoyas’ stifling team defense played a key role in the win. The Bison shot only 21.3 percent from the field, 12.5 percent from the three-point line, scored just seven points in the first quarter and eight in the second.

Georgetown also registered 14 steals and five blocks as a team.

At one point early in the second quarter, the Bison cut the lead to 17, but the Hoyas answered with 16 straight points, including seven from White. The team went on to allow just three more points until halftime while scoring 10 of their own.

Thanks to Georgetown’s strong showing in the first half, James Howard was able to give minutes to some of the younger Hoyas late in the game. Freshman center Breonna Mayfield flashed her potential by tallying three blocks in 10 minutes of play.

Overall, 10 of the 11 Georgetown players who stepped on the court scored.

The Hoyas travel to Baltimore to take on Loyola University Maryland (1-1). Georgetown will try to build off its momentum from the win against Howard in its first away game of the season.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.