Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks quotes
BLACKSBURG – After defending home court last week, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team is back on the road this weekend to take on Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday, January 12. Tech registered victories over North Carolina (76-70) and Pitt (68-56) to even their conference record at 2-2 this past week.
"We are very fortunate and excited to come away with a win against a very scrappy Pitt team," head coach Kenny Brooks commented in a postgame presser. "They're unorthodox and they took us out of rhythm a few times. Very fortunate to come away with a win. I'm happy, we have to move on, but we have to be better."
The Hokies were led by their two grad transfers, point guard Taja Cole and forward Lydia Rivers.
"They meant a lot," Brooks said. "They really steady us a lot and Cole was terrific tonight in getting the ball where it needs to get to."
Cole who leads the league at over 6 assists per game, dished out six in the game while also going for 21 points, her highest output in 15 games as a Hokie. She was an efficient 9 of 12 from the floor including a coast-to-coast steal and lay in and a a fadeaway jumper as time expired in the third quarter.
Taj (@TCOLE_0) got loose in the open floor last night 👀
— Virginia Tech Women's Basketball (@HokiesWBB) January 10, 2020
She lead all players with 21 points as we got our second straight win in the league 👉 https://t.co/gQr1140QxJ#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/9DCR1Iaihe
"She was focused, when we needed a big basket, she got it," Brooks said. "When we needed to be steady, she did it.
Cole also added six rebounds.
Rivers led all players with 13 rebounds in the game. She scored eight points, but also had two blocks and a steal and took care of the ball, with zero turnovers in 30 minutes on the floor.
"I don't think Rivers anticipated the role that she has, but we knew she was going to come over here - she is a smart kid and a smart player, very gritty, she offers that grit to us where it's desperately needed," Brooks said when asked about her contributions. "With Regan Magarity, we lost someone who was like the quarterback back there and really anchored the defense. Rivers stepped into that role and that's why we inserted her into the starting lineup so that she could see things differently and help out in situations. She has been great for us and we knew they would be impactful immediately and that's why you want to bring in a grad transfer."
The Hokies moved to 8-0 on Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum this season with the victory over Pitt, winning those games by an average of 23 points per game. Tech has now won five straight home games in the ACC dating back to last season.
"It is really good for our kids, our program to be able to get a couple wins in a row," Brooks said. "It's good for the fans because they went through that with us last year."
GAME INFORMATION
Virginia Tech at Duke
Sunday, January 12 – 3 PM
Regional Sports Networks
- Tom Werme (Play by play)
- Kelley Deyo (Color analyst)
THE BLUE DEVILS
Duke enters the contest 7-8 and 1-3 in ACC play following a narrow 63-66 loss at Virginia this past Thursday night their last time on the floor. Guard Haley Gorecki scored 27 points in the contest put 28 Blue Devil turnovers proved to be insurmountable.
The Blue Devils have lost each of the past five games overall with the last three coming in league play by an average of just 3.3 points per game – Wake Forest by two, at Louisville by five and at Virginia by three.
On the season, Duke is led in scoring by Gorecki's 18.3 points which ranks third in the conference. She's knocked down 41% of her shots from the floor and also leads the team in rebounds at 5.9 per contest in 35 minutes. Leaonna Odom is the only other Duke player who averages in double figures at 13.5 per game.
Last season's victory over the Blue Devils was Tech's first at Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1998 and the Hokies' first win in the series in 25 tries.
NEXT TIME ON THE HARDWOOD
•The Hokies will travel to the University of Virginia on Sunday, January 19 for a 3 p.m. contest broadcast on Regional Sports Networks.
•Tech is 11-50 all-time against Virginia and 4-24 in Charlottesville.
•Last season the Hokies and 'Hoos split the season series with both squads winning on their home floors. Virginia won 62-58 at John Paul Jones Arena after a late comeback and the Hokies earned a 63-45 victory at Cassell Coliseum six weeks later.
NEXT TIME AT CASSELL COLISEUM
•Tech returns to Carilion Clinic Court on Thursday, January 23 to take on Boston College at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
•The Hokies won last season's contest against the Eagles in Chestnut Hill 95-86 and have won three in a row in the series. Overall Tech leads 15-12. Regan Magarity scored a career-best 30 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the game and Dara Mabrey dropped 26 points to propel the Hokies to victory. The pair were named ACC Player and Freshman of the Week following their performances.Gallery: (1/9/2020) 2020 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs. PITT