BLACKSBURG –The Virginia Tech women's basketball team hadn't played a game in two weeks and it showed, briefly as the squad got off to a bit of a slow start in the opening quarter to what Coach Brooks attributed to 'rust', particularly on the defensive end. But hot shooting all around and multiple double-digit scoring runs fueled a 92-65 victory on Carilion Clinic Court Thursday night.
Tech advances to the second round of the WNIT for the fourth consecutive season and sets up a meeting with in-state foe VCU.
All-ACC guard Taylor Emery led the scoring again with 23 on 10 of 19 shooting but it was Dara Mabrey who walked off the court with the biggest smile on her face. The freshman from Belmar, New Jersey sank six 3-pointers tying her career best on her way to setting two new school records. With her fifth of the night at 8:23 in the fourth quarter Mabrey made her 77th, passing teammate Aisha Sheppard for most by a freshman and tying former Hokie Vanessa Panousis' mark for a single season tally. Nearly two minutes later, she found herself open in the corner and unleashed number 78, Tech's new record for a single season.
But it wasn't just Mabrey who was connecting. Emery had three triples of her own, as did Sheppard. Kendyl Brooks and Rachel Camp each came off of the bench and scored one longball each, bringing the team's tally to 14. By contrast, Furman, who struggled to get good looks for stretches could only must eight 3-point baskets.
As a team, the Hokies broke their own record set a season ago for most 3's made in a single season with 308. Last season's mark was 295. Tech has set a new mark in each of Kenny Brooks' three seasons in Blacksburg.
Regan Magarity collected another double-double, her 22ndof the season with 14 points and 15 boards. Her presence was most felt protecting the Hokies' basket as she had two blocks and four steals, one of which led to a memorable scoop and score for herself on the other end.
Furman, who rotated in 15 players, shot the ball fairly well (43 percent), but did not protect the ball, turning it over 15 times in the game. Taylor Petty led the Paladins with 18 points, while Kaitlyn Duncan pulled down 10 rebounds.
Quoting Coach Brooks:
• Very happy for Dara, she deserved it (the freshman record), she shot the lights out tonight. She got it going tonight and really helped us push the lead out. Very happy for her, congratulations!
• It was an emotional game; a high intensity game and we made some mistakes early but we minimized our mistakes from the second quarter on and got after it on the defensive end. We shot the ball well, we're a prolific 3-point shooting team which is evident by us breaking the record for most 3's in a season this year, so we got it going.
• I do want to take a second to talk about Furman, I think they are an up and coming program. I got to extensively watch them a little bit for this game obviously and they have a bright future. They very well could've been representing their conference in the NCAA Tournament this year, they played that well.
Inside the box score:
• Thursday was the fifth straight game in which the Hokies had connected on 10 or more triples. Tech is 4-1 during that span.
• Four Hokies recorded double digits scoring for the 10thtime this season. Emery led the team with 23, Mabrey had 18, Magarity scored 14 and Trinity Baptiste added 13.
• Tech's six turnovers, were the fewest surrendered all season.
• It was the first time since the Longwood game (Dec. 29, 2018) that the Hokies eclipsed 90 points.
Game Notes:
• Furman's head coach Jackie Carson was Kenny Brooks' associate head coach for five years at James Madison from 2006 to 2010.
What's next:
The Hokies will gear up for the second round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 24 against the VCU Rams from the Atlantic 10 conference. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. from Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.
VCU defeated the Charlotte 49ers 65-52 Thursday night at home.
Tech hasn't faced the Rams since 2010, a 63-61 overtime victory for the Hokies. All-time Tech leads the series 17-9.
Gallery: (3/21/2019) 2019 WNIT FIRST ROUND vs. FURMAN
