BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's program moved to 3-0 Friday evening with a 73-69 victory over in-state for Liberty.
Aisha Sheppard coming off a career best 22-point game last week at George Mason, continued her good form producing 20 points Friday to lead the team. The junior guard was 5 of 9 from the floor, but was clutch from the free throw line where she connected on 9 of 10 opportunities.
Tech's largest lead in the first half was just seven points as Liberty stayed within striking distance with timely buckets, especially from forward Keyene Green who scored 20 points before fouling out of the contest.
In the third quarter, a Cayla King 3-pointer capped an 8-0 Tech run to give the Hokies some breathing room in the form of an 11-point lead, and free throws from forward Trinity Baptiste extended the advantage to 14.
But Liberty wouldn't go away as the Flames strung together a 15-2 run to close the gap to just a single point at 3:28 in the fourth. From there, Sheppard and Dara Mabrey scored the Hokies' final 11 points to close the game and seal the victory.
Mabrey scored 19 in the game, including knocking down four 3-pointers and pulling down four rebounds. Taja Cole, the third member of the Hokies' starting backcourt added nine points, six assists and four boards.
Off the bench Lydia Rivers led the Hokies in rebounding with eight on the night.
Liberty fell to 1-3 with the result.
GAME NOTES
- The Hokies were 22 of 33 from the free throw line the most attempts of the young season. Liberty was 15 of 18 from the charity stripe.
- The Flames outscored Tech in the paint 38-24
- Tech got out in the open floor scoring 15 fast break points to Liberty's four.
- The consecutive 20-points games for Sheppard was the first such two-game streak of her career.
NEXT TIME ON CARILION CLINIC COURT
•Tech will return to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Tuesday, November 19 at 7 PM on ACC Network
•The Hokies lead the series 2-0 which began in 2014. In the most recent meeting in 2017, Regan Magarity had a game-high 20 points and three other Hokies including Kendyl Brooks were in double figures.
Gallery: (11/15/2019) 2019 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs. LIBERTY