BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's basketball team will travel to Tallahassee, Florida to take on the eighth-ranked Seminoles in their opening ACC contest of the season on Sunday afternoon. It will mark the first time in program history that the Hokies will play a top 10 team in the first game of their ACC slate.
GAME INFORMATION
Virginia Tech vs. Florida State
Sunday, December 29 – 2 p.m.
RSN: Evan Lepler and Tabitha Turner
Virginia Tech Game Notes
The Hokies are 10-1 on the season after going 2-0 in the Coqui Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico last week with victories over Rice and Wichita State on consecutive days. Against the Shockers, the team set the program record with 18 made 3-pointers. Along the way, guard Aisha Sheppard made six, and vaulted herself into fourth place all-time in Virginia Tech history passing teammate Kendyl Brooks.
Sheppard leads the team in scoring at 17.3 points per contest and is joined in double figures by three other Hokies; Dara Mabrey (14.9), Elizabeth Kitley (11.4) and Trinity Baptiste (11.1).
The Hokies are shooting 47% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
THE SEMINOLES
Florida State enters ranked eighth in the nation and with six Power 5 victories to their credit already, including a December 6th 81-64 victory at Clemson in their ACC opener. They stand at 12-0 and are 6-0 at home in the Tucker Center.
Last time out, the 'Noles defeated Michigan 79-69 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena. Nausia Woolfolk led four players in double figures with 21 points in that contest.
On the season, Florida State is led by redshirt senior forward Kiah Gillespie who averages a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.1 rebounds. Two other 'Noles score 10-plus per contest as well, Woolfolk at 15.2 points per game and senior guard Nicki Ekhomu at 13.1. As a team, FSU shoots 47% from the floor and 35% from beyond the arc and have a +13.6 advantage on the boards.
NEXT TIME ON THE HARDWOOD
•The Hokies will play at nationally ranked NC State on Thursday, January 2. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
•Last season, the Wolfpack earned a 70-61 victory in overtime over the Hokies, also at Reynolds Coliseum.
•NC State leads the all-time series 19-1, with Tech's lone victory coming at the ACC Tournament in 2015, 57-56.
NEXT TIME ON CARILION CLINIC COURT
•Tech will return to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday, January 5 to take on North Carolina on ACC Network Extra. Tipoff for that contest is set for 2 p.m.
•The Hokies are 6-19 all-time against the Tar Heels and fell 81-69 at home in last season's only meeting. This season, the programs will play a home-and-home as they are grouped together in the new ACC 'pod' format with 18 league games.
