ORLANDO, FLA. – Tech jumped out to an 11-4 lead by the first media timeout and wouldn't let up, going on to win 85-57 at CFE Arena Sunday afternoon. The Hokies stand at 7-0 ahead of next week's ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup at Cassell Coliseum.
The win was Head Coach Kenny Brooks' 50th since he joined the Hokies in 2016.
Just getting started 😏
— Virginia Tech Women's Basketball (@HokiesWBB) November 25, 2018
Congrats to @CoachBrooksVT on recording his 5️⃣0️⃣th win in Blacksburg ‼️ pic.twitter.com/g9zDYVAO1Z
"To have 50 wins at this juncture I think that's a credit to the whole program," Brooks said. "Our staff coming in and the familiarity we have with each other really has contributed greatly to what we're trying to do. It's almost unheard of when you inherit a situation like this to have 50 wins before December in year three. It's a credit to the staff, the support staff and the players, to have everything coming together nicely like this."
"I like where we are because we can compete at a high level."
The Hokies, who shot the ball exceptionally well all day (53 percent from the field), received a huge boost from the bench, particularly forward Trinity Baptiste. After her game winner against Villanova, the sophomore went on lead the Hokies in scoring with 24 points while also pulling down 11 rebounds. Baptiste even stepped out beyond the arc, making both of her 3-point field goal attempts.
Tech took advantage on the glass all day long, owning a 45-20 advantage in that category thanks in large part to Baptiste and Regan Magarity. Magarity pulled down 15 rebounds herself on the afternoon, complimenting her 18 points, culminating in a sixth double-double in seven games on the season.
Virginia Tech also used a large disparity in opportunities at the free throw line to pull away in the game, making 25 of 29 from the line. Taylor Emery herself went 10-for-10, the second time in her career that she has accomplished the feat.
The Spiders moved to 1-5 with the loss. Richmond was led by Claire Holt's 13 points and Daijia Ruffin, who scored 10 and had four assists.
Other key notes:
• The duo of Regan Magarity and Trinity Baptiste recorded double-doubles in the same game for the third time, a mark that is tied for third best in Virginia Tech women's basketball history. The forwards have only suited up together seven times.
• Tech outrebounded the Spiders 45-20. No Richmond player had more than four.
NEXT GAME: The Hokies will return home to face the Rutgers Scarlett Knights on Carilion Clinic Court on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. The game is a part of the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge, in which the Hokies have won three games in a row in the competition.