Miami, Fla. – The Virginia Tech women's basketball team tipped off ACC action Thursday afternoon in Miami, looking to extend their 13-game winning streak and get off to a 1-0 start in conference play. But the Hokies ran into a physical Miami Hurricanes squad that owned a 45-33 advantage on the glass and Tech lost a back and forth contest with the Hurricanes 68-61, moving their record to 13-1.
Miami improved to 13-3 and 1-0 in the ACC on the young season.
Dara Mabrey got off to a hot start in the first quarter knocking down consecutive 3-pointers. Despite trailing most of the half, Tech closed the second quarter on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 34. Both clubs were an identical 13-32 from the field with Miami holding a 22-17 edge on the glass.
Coming out of the locker room, Tech began to apply pressure, with Mabrey beginning the period with another triple, one of her five in the contest and buckets by Emery and Magarirty led to an 11-2 run giving the Hokies their first lead of the game.
However, led by forwards Emese Hof (23 points) and Beatrice Mompremier (18 points, 13 rebounds), the Hurricanes responded with a run of their own, 16-2 over the final 6:36 to take a 5-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Tech wouldn't get closer than three points the rest of the way as Miami used their size to their advantage taking 23 free throws to the Hokies' six. The Canes were whistled for 13 fouls while Tech was called for 21 on the afternoon.
Taylor Emery led the Hokies' efforts, scoring 20 points for the seventh time this season on 8 for 19 shooting. The senior guard also pulled down 10 rebounds, recording her second double-double of the season. Mabrey would finish the game with 15 points and Regan Magarity was also in double figures with 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Other key notes:
• The duo of Magarity and Emery combined to score Tech's final 22 points of the afternoon.
NEXT GAME: Tech is back on Carilion Clinic Court on Sunday, Jan. 6 for a battle with conference for and fourteenth-ranked Syracuse. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and can be found on ACC Network Extra.
The Hokies and Orange have met 12 times previously, with each club winning six times. Tech won both matchups a season ago, including earning Virginia Tech athletics' first ever victory in the Carrier Dome and a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the Second Round of the ACC Tournament.