BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's basketball team is back on the road to face another top 10 opponent Sunday afternoon when they take on the ninth-ranked NC State Wolfpack.
In Tech's ACC opener at No. 8 Florida State the squad fell 86-62.
GAME INFORMATION
Virginia Tech at No. 9 NC State
Thursday, January 2 – 7 PM
ACC Network Extra: Andrew Sanders and Erin Summers
Six Hokies earned their first minutes of ACC action last Sunday afternoon at Florida State; Taja Cole, Elizabeth Kitley, Lydia Rivers, Taylor Geiman, Cayla King and Makayla Ennis.
Kitley had a solid league debut, scoring 14 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor. She also grabbed five rebounds and had three blocks.
Against the Seminoles, Dara Mabrey also dropped 14 points and connected on four 3-pointers, already the fifth time this season that she has made four or more. She has moved into 10th all-time at Tech in that category with 115.
THE WOLFPACK
NC State is one of nine remaining unbeaten teams in the nation and are coming off of a 72-54 victory at Boston College to begin the conference slate last Sunday. In that game six players registered double figures, led by Kai Crutchfield's 14 points and Elissa Cunane's double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
For the season, the Wolfpack are led by Cunane and Crutchfield, who average 15.9 and 10.4 points per contest respectively. The squad is shooting the ball at a 44.8% clip which included 36% from beyond the arc.
NC State coasted through non-conference play but did earn quality victories over Texas (84-73) and then-No. 9 Maryland (66-59) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
NEXT TIME ON THE HARDWOOD
•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.
