BLACKSBURG -The Virginia Tech women's basketball team travels to Harrisonburg, Virginia to take on James Madison in the Sweet 16 of the WNIT Thursday at 7 p.m. Tipoff can be seen on MadiZONE on jmusports.com.
The Hokies made it to the second weekend of the WNIT for the third straight season after defeating Virginia Commonwealth 82-72 Sunday at Cassell Coliseum. Taylor Emery led the way against VCU, scoring a game-high 21 points in 33 minutes. Regan Magarity scored 10 points and secured 12 rebounds for her 22nddouble-double of the season. Rachel Camp had a season-high 11 points in the win.
The matchup with JMU is significant for Hokies' head coach Kenny Brooks. Brooks was head coach of the Dukes' women's basketball team from 2002 to 2016. He is JMU's all-time winningest women's basketball head coach with 337 wins.
The Hokies are 6-1 against teams from the Commonwealth this season, defeating Liberty, Richmond, Radford, Longwood, splitting the season series with Virginia and VCU this past Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION
Virginia Tech vs. James Madison
March 28, 2019 – 7 p.m.
RADIO
Virginia Tech/IMG Radio Network
LIVE STATS
Hokiesports.com
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's matchup will be the first between the Hokies and Dukes since Coach Brooks was hired by Virginia Tech. The Hokies lead the all-time series lead 22-13 and are 9-8 in games played in Harrisonburg. It's been nearly 10 years since these two teams played, dating back to Tech's 66-59 defeat at JMU on Nov. 22, 2009.
Thursday's game marks the first postseason contest between the in-state rivals.
The Hokies and Dukes have three common opponents this season, with both clubs defeating Liberty and Dayton. The third was Wake Forest who the Dukes narrowly lost to, while Tech beat the Demon Deacons twice.
Some notes on the Dukes:
- JMU defeated North Carolina A&T 48-37 in the first round, followed by a 71-54 victory in the second round over South Florida
- The Dukes are 27-5 on the season overall and went 17-1 in the CAA this year winning the league by three games
- Kamiah Smalls leads the Dukes in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game this season
- Kayla Cooper-Williams leads the team in rebounds, averaging 10.1 rebounds per game
- JMU lost to Hofstra 57-50 in the CAA tournament quarterfinals
- JMU played one ACC school this season, losing to Wake Forest 50-49 in Winston-Salem
- Kamiah Smalls earned the Richmond Times-Dispatch State Player of the Year award
- Kayla Cooper-Williams won CAA Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the CAA All-Defensive team
- Kamiah Smalls also earned first team All-CAA
- Lexie Barrier earned second team All-CAA
- Kayla Cooper-Williams and Jackie Benitez earned third team All-CAA
- Jackie Benitez was also named the Sixth Player of the Year
- JMU head coach Sean O'Regan previously served as Associate Head Coach under Kenny Brooks since 2012. He has been on the staff since 2007.