Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Regan Magarity and Alexis Jean each recorded double-doubles for the Hokies, but it was Taylor Emery's late-game heroics that ultimately sent Tech into the second round of the WNIT on Friday night.
"This time of the year, it's really about surviving and advancing," Tech head coach Kenny Brooks said. "I had concerns going into the game because it had been two weeks from the day that we had played our last game. I thought that we showed some of that. I didn't know if we were going to be rested or rusted. I thought we were a little bit rusted in the beginning."
With Tech trailing by three points and just 11 ticks on the clock, Brooks utilized his final timeout to advance the ball and draw up a play. That play resulted in Rachel Camp finding Taylor Emery at the top of the key for a 3-pointer that she knocked down with 9 seconds left that tied the game at 54, completing the Hokies' comeback after having trailed by 13 earlier in the contest.
MOVING ON ➡️ pic.twitter.com/Nwhp4UjSh4
— VT Women's Hoops (@HokiesWBB) March 17, 2018
"I want to make sure to give credit to Navy and what they did because they made us play that way," Brooks said. "They're a very feisty team, they come out, and make you play a certain way. When they hit those three 3-pointers to start the game, we knew it was going to be a tough battle. I'm proud of the kids the way they hung in there and made the plays down the stretch that they had to."
After Navy's Hannah Fenske made one of two free throws with 5 seconds left to give the Mids a one-point advantage, Emery once again stole the show, splitting two defenders to create enough space to fire the game-winning jumper with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.
The Midshipman had a half court heave attempt at the buzzer, but it ricocheted off of the backboard, sending Tech to the next round.
Jean, recorded her third double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. The junior forward took advantage of the mismatch in the post, shooting 7 of 14 from the field.
For Magarity, she collected her 14th double-double of the season, as she scored 14 points and grabbed 11 boards.
Taylor Dunham lead Navy with 18 points and three rebounds in the game, while also coming up with four steals.
NEXT UP: The Hokies will meet the George Mason Patriots on Carilion Clinic Court on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Mason defeated Stephen F. Austin 82-75 in a first-round contest Friday night.