BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's basketball team will play to host Liberty University for their second home game of the season on Friday, November 15. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Carilion Court in Cassell Coliseum. The game can be viewed on ACC Network Extra.
The Hokies have started their season 2-0 taking after an opening night victory over St. Francis and a road win at George Mason last week. Aisha Sheppard leads Tech offensively at 19.0 points per game, including a career best 22 points against the Patriots on Sunday afternoon.
Tech boasts the ACC Freshman of the Week in center Elizabeth Kitley. She began her career with a 27-point effort, the most by a freshman in a Virginia Tech debut and then added eight points and eight boards on Sunday at George Mason.
Through the first week and half of games, point guard Taja Cole leads the league in assists per game at 8.0.
GAME INFORMATION
Virginia Tech vs. Liberty
November 15, 2019 – 7 p.m.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
ACC Network Extra
Play by play: Bailey Angle
Analyst: Mack McCarthy
THE FLAMES
Liberty has started 1-2 on the young season defeating Norfolk State and falling to ETSU and Chattanooga.
Last time out at Chattanooga (11/11), the Flames fell 71-54 and were led in scoring by Keyen Green's 12 points. Bridgette Rettstatt and Emily Lytle each added 11 points.
For the season Rettstatt leads four Flames in double figure scoring at 11.7 points per game. Liberty is shooting 40% from the floor and outrebounding opponents 42.3 to 32.3.
THE MATCHUP WITH LIBERTY
Tech leads the all-time series 15-1 dating back to 1982. Tech's only loss to the Flames came during the 2008 meeting at Cassell Coliseum.
Last season, the Hokies traveled to Lynchburg to take on the Flames, winning that contest Flames 72-61. Dara Mabrey and Taylor Emery each scored 13 points and the team knocked down 10 3-point field goals to pull away from the Flames.
NOTABLE
53 STRAIGHT WINS AT CASSELL COLISEUM
•The Hokies have won each of the last 53 home games against non-conference opposition including postseason competition.
•Tech's last home loss in the non-conference came December 6, 2014 against Longwood.
•The Hokies begin the season with six home games out of 11 in the non-conference portion of the season leading up to the first ACC game 12/29 at Florida State. •Four of the other five games are at a neutral site.
KITLEY MAKES IMPACTFUL DEBUT
•Freshman center Elizabeth Kitley stepped onto a collegiate court for the first time last week in the season opener vs. Saint Francis (11/5) and didn't miss a beat scoring 27 points on 13-15 shooting from the field.
•It was the most points scored by a Tech freshmen in their first game and the second most, by just a point for any Virginia Tech player in their debut.
•Kitley would add eight points and eight rebounds at George Mason (11/10) and would be recognized by the conference as the ACC Freshman of the Week.
third best mark in the nation.
SHEPPARD STARTS HER ASCENT TOWARDS TOP
•Junior guard Aisha Sheppard began the season with 138 3's to her credit, the eighth-most in program history. She needs just 15 more to reach the top five.
•She trails teammate Kendyl Brooks by 18.
•Sheppard has gotten off to a hot start in 2019-20, averaging 19.0 points through the first two games, which included a career best 22 in a homecoming game at George Mason.
GRAD TRANSFERS MAKE SOLID DEBUTS
•Point guard Taja Cole who is featured on the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List, leads the ACC in assists at 8.0 per game. She dished out nine against Saint Francis (11/5), then had seven helpers at George Mason (11/10). She also averages 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds.
•Forward Lydia Rivers' energy off the bench has been huge for Tech already during the young season. She averages 12.5 points and is second in the ACC at 11.5 rebounds per contest. Against George Mason, the Kinston, North Carolina native registered her first double-double for the Hokies with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
NEXT TIME ON CARILION CLINIC COURT
•Tech will return to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Tuesday, November 19 to take on Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 PM on ACC Network.
•The Hawks last met the Hokies in 2017, when Tech won 90-52 behind 20 points from Regan Magarity. Three other Hokies were also in double figures that game.
