BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's basketball team is back home on Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Thursday, January 7 to take on the second-ranked Louisville Cardinals. Tip is set for 8 p.m. on Regional Sports Networks.
Tech will look to snap a seven-game skid against the Cardinals and are looking to avoid the program's first three-game losing streak since January of 2019.
In their last contest, the Hokies fell 73-63 at home to Florida State despite a 21-point effort from Aisha Sheppard and a league-leading sixth double-double from center Elizabeth Kitley (16 points, 13 rebounds).
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Thursday, January 7 – 8 PM
Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Va.
vs. No. 2 Louisville (8-0, 1-0)
Head Coach: Jeff Walz
Record at school: 366-104 (14th season); Career: same
Series: Tech trails 17-22 Last: March 1, 2020 (L, 53-70)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: Regional Sports Networks
Play-by-Play: Tom Werme
Analyst: Kelley Deyo
Radio: Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Bryant Johnson
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING FOR
•Azana Baines in the rotation
The Hokies' transfer guard saw her first action of the season last week against Florida State, registering 18 minutes of action. The 6-foot-1 Baines scored nine points on 50% shooting and also pulled down four rebounds and dished out three assists.
She is a welcome addition to the rotation and figures to give the Hokies more of a punch off of the bench, an area that has added 12.0 ppg. through eight contests this season.
•Regaining their scoring form vs. a stingy defense
Tech's average of 80.5 ppg. ranks fourth in the conference, but the Hokies have struggled of late to score at their normal clip. In their last two outings the Hokies have averaged 70.5 points, including a 63-point effort against FSU, which was the lowest output of the season.
Under Coach Brooks the Hokies are just 25-37 when scoring less than 70 points in a contest.
Louisville's defense has been superb through eight games, allowing just 59.1 ppg. with a high of 75 in a 116-75 victory over DePaul.
•Bouncing back under Brooks
In the past five seasons, the Hokies are 22-24 after a loss. After suffering two in two games, Tech has not tasted victory in 27 days, a sensation the squad desperately wants to experience again, this time against one of the nation's top teams.
The program has not dropped three straight since a seven-game slide in January of 2019.
•A ranked win for the Hokies
Tech's last victory over an AP ranked opponent came at Cassell on February 21, 2019 against the 14th-ranked Miami Hurricanes. Since then the Hokies are 0-4 against ranked opposition, all of whom were ranked inside the top 10.
The program's last victory against a top 10 opponent came in December of 2015 when the Hokies won at No. 8 Tennessee 57-43.
