BLACKSBURG – Aisha Sheppard scored a season-best 29 points and the Hokies battled back from a 21-point second half deficit to cut the lead to two before the Notre Dame Fighting Irish closed the game at the free throw line. For the Hokies, it was the second consecutive loss and the result was the second loss to Notre Dame this season, dropping the squad to 7-6 (2-6).
Tech jumped out to a lead in the opening frame behind solid defense, holding a 16-9 advantage at the end of the opening 10 minutes. But it would be the Irish who would find their footing in the second quarter, outscoring the Hokies 27-9 and taking the lead for good.
Notre Dame scored the first 13 points of the second half before D'asia Gregg hit a field goal, the Hokies' first in seven minutes of game time, during which the Irish held their largest lead, 21 with 6:54 in the third quarter.
Down the stretch, Tech found its way back into the game behind Sheppard, who was just 5 for 20 from 3-point range but the Alexandria, Virginia native attacked the paint as well, getting to the free throw line 11 times. A Cayla King 3-pointer with 1:34 left in the fourth cut the Irish advantage to just two, and that would be the closest that the Hokies would come.
Maddy Westbeld (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Destinee Walker (16 points) paced the Irish on the night.
The only other Hokie in double figures was center Elizabeth Kitley who notched a third successive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Tech shot just 30.3% from the field and was 9 for 39 from beyond the arc.
GAME NOTES
•Virginia Tech is now 2-13 against the Fighting Irish.
•Kenny Brooks' record moves to 93-55 at Virginia Tech and 430-177 in his career.
•Tech is 5-10 all-time on January 21.
•The starting lineup of Georgia Amoore, Aisha Sheppard, Cayla King, Azana Baines and Elizabeth Kitley accounted for 58 points. It was the first game of the season that this combination had been utilized from the opening tip.
•Kitley registered her ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. She leads the conference in that category after securing her third consecutive one.
• Aisha Sheppard scored five 3-pointers, taking her career total to 269, matching the program record which has stood since 2017, set by Vanessa Panousis.
NEXT TIME ON THE COURT
•The Hokies are back on the court on Sunday January 24 for a 4 p.m. tip at No. 2 NC State. That game will be broadcast on ACC Network. The Wolfpack own a 21-1 advantage in the all-time series.
•A second meeting against the Wolfpack is scheduled for Thursday, January 28 at Cassell Coliseum. That game will also tip at 4 p.m. and will be shown on RSN.
Gallery: (1-21-2021) 2021 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs. NOTRE DAME
