Hokie ClubCLEMSON, S.C. -- Utahya Drye recorded her second consecutive double-double to lead Virginia Tech to a 65-61 victory Wednesday night over Clemson in Littlejohn Coliseum. Tech picked up its first ACC win of the year to improve to 1-5 in the league and 10-10 overall. Clemson fell to 12-10 and 2-6.
Drye (Jr., Durham, N.C.) had 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Tech attack in registering the third double-double of her career. Nikki Davis (tr.-So., Lexington, Ken.) continued her solid play with 14 points, while Laura Haskins (Sr., Alexandria, Va.) and Shanel Harrison (Fr., Olney, Md.) each chipped in with 10 points each.
Haskins, among the ACC leaders in assists, steals and assist/turnover ratio, improved in all categories with her performance against the Tigers dishing out six assists with only one turnover and four steals.
Clemson was led by Lele Hardy’s 13 points and Whitney Hood with 12. Hardy entered the game averaging just under 10 rebounds per contest but was limited to half that total against the Hokies.
The contest was a back-and-forth affair for much of the first half and the Hokies found themselves with a one-point advantage, 32-31, with 1:45 remaining in the opening stanza. However, Clemson put together an 8-0 run to build its largest lead of the game, 39-32, at the half.
Tech wasted little time getting right back in the game as the Hokies opened with a quick 7-0 spurt to knot the game at 39-39 only 90 seconds into the second half. From that point on, neither team would lead by more than four points the rest of the way.
Two free throws by Tasha Taylor gave Clemson the lead, 61-60, with 2:24 remaining in the game, but that would be the Tigers final points of the evening. Tech captured the lead for good 30 seconds later on a Harrison layup. A couple of possessions later Harrison was fouled and connected on one of two free throws to increase the narrow lead to 63-61.
Clemson missed a three-pointer on the next possession, but Tech returned the favor as Lindsay Biggs (Jr., Midlothian, Va.) missed a jumper with 39 ticks left. Harrison came up with a big offensive rebound for the Hokies and Haskins was soon fouled. The Tech senior clinched the victory by nailing two free throws for the final margin.
The Hokies return to action on Sun, Feb. 1 , when they host NC State at 4 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. The game will be televised by the ACC’s Regional Sports Network. Due to Super Bowl coverage on SuperSports 101.7, the game will be broadcast locally on Hot 100 FM.