Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's basketball team will face the Purdue Boilermakers on Thursday, Dec. 5 at Cassell Coliseum in the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the ACC office announced Tuesday morning. Tech will be seeking its fifth consecutive win in the competition, building on the successes of the past four seasons with victories over Rutgers, Illinois, Nebraska and Penn State.
The Hokies and Boilermakers have met once previously, in the 2003 NCAA tournament. Purdue won that contest in West Lafayette, Indiana 80-62.
Purdue went 19-15 last season which included an 8-10 mark in Big Ten play. After being eliminated in the Big Ten Championship, the team did not participate in a postseason competition. The squad is led by Indiana Basketball Hall of Famer Sharon Versyp in her 14th season as head coach at her alma mater.
Virginia Tech in the Challenge
The Hokies are 6-6 all-time in the competition, owning a four-game winning streak for the first time in its history. Hokies' head coach Kenny Brooks is undefeated in the competition, defeating Nebraska 76-67 in 2016, Illinois 96-49 in 2017 and Rutgers 67-51 a season ago.
History of Virginia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
2018: W, 67-51 vs Rutgers
2017: W, 96-49 at Illinois
2016: W, 76-67 vs Nebraska
2015: W, 64-59 at Penn State
2014: L, 45-70 vs Northwestern
2013: L, 65-77 at Indiana
2012: W, 47-38 vs Wisconsin
2011: L, 47-58 at Iowa
2010: L, 58-63 at Minnesota
2009: L, 51-71 vs Michigan
2008: L, 52-61 at Wisconsin
2007: W, 68-62 vs Minnesota
Notes on the Challenge
- The ACC has won nine Challenge titles since its inception in 2007, with an overall record of 89-61.
- Tech is one of five league teams currently on a three-game winning streak in the competition (Duke, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami).
- All-time, Tech is 22-32 against teams in the Big Ten Conference.
Comparing the conferences
- Eight ACC teams (North Carolina, Florida State, NC State, Clemson, Miami, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Louisville) featured in the 2019 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, the most of any conference. Notre Dame and Louisville advanced to the Elite Eight, with the Fighting Irish falling in the Championship game to Baylor.
- The Big Ten earned six bids the NCAA Tournament (Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan, Maryland and Rutgers), with the Hawkeyes reaching the Elite Eight before falling to Baylor.
2019 Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule (tip times to be announced at a later date)
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Minnesota at Notre Dame
Indiana at Miami
Clemson at Iowa
Boston College at Northwestern
Duke at Nebraska
Thursday, Dec. 5
Maryland at NC State
Purdue at Virginia Tech
Pitt at Penn State
Syracuse at Michigan
Louisville at Ohio State
Michigan State at Florida State
Illinois at North Carolina
Wisconsin at Georgia Tech
Virginia at Rutgers
The ONLY way to see Hokies' women's basketball team this season – other than in-person – is on ACCN. Go to www.GetACCN.com to see if your provider is currently slated to carry ACCN. Don't see yours listed, contact them to demand ACCN.
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