Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech secured their fifth consecutive victory to open the 2025–26 season, defeating Niagara, 83–46, Thursday evening inside Cassell Coliseum.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies were aggressive from the opening tip, creating offensive opportunities on fast breaks through stifling defense by jumping passing lanes. Mackenzie Nelson got to the paint early and set the tone for the offense with a lay-up 29 seconds after tip-off to open the game. Carys Baker and Mel Daley followed by hitting three-pointers in transition to allow the offense a large early lead, 23-10, after ten minutes of play.
Virginia Tech delivered their most dominant stretch during the second period, outscoring Niagara 28-10 while shooting a blistering 75 percent (12-16) from the field and a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc. After another Purple Eagles turnover, Carleigh Wenzel’s three-point attack picked up right where it left off to open the second quarter off a scrambled play. Daley’s jump shots continued to spread the floor, opening multiple opportunities for the Tech offense, scoring seven points while Baker knocked down two triples in the run. The Hokies defense was amplified through seven turnovers in the quarter, helping them to a 51-20 advantage at the break.
Niagara drew back to start the second half, jumping out to a 6-0 run which was ended by an and-one layup from Samyha Suffren at 7:43. A 10-0 mid-quarter run from the Hokies highlighted the period, capped by a driving finish from Suffren and a steal-and-score from Nelson. Daley lifted Tech to their largest lead of the contest with 49 seconds left in the third frame before the Purple Eagles drained their first three-pointer of the contest right as time expired to close to 69-34.
Despite another run to begin the fourth quarter, Niagara could not overcome the deficit created in the opening half. Virginia Tech’s bench provided the offensive lift in the final ten minutes. Aniya Trent entered the game halfway through the quarter for the Hokies, scoring her first career point at the free throw line before adding to her total on a layup assisted by Suffren. Tech’s energy down the stretch propelled them to an 83-46 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech improves to 5-0 for the first time since the 2022-23 season
- The Hokies are now 8-1 against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
- Tech shot 51 percent from the field (33-65, 0.508) overall in the contest, their best mark of the season
- The Hokies dominated all five specialty stat categories, capitalizing in the paint (48-22) and off turnovers (25-9)
- All 12 available Virginia Tech players entered the contest, 11 scored
- It is the third time this season where Tech has had five players finish in double figures
- Guards Mel Daley and Samyha Suffren paced the offense with 13 points each
- Daley, one off her season-high mark in scoring, is just nine points away from hitting the elusive 1,000-point milestone
- Suffren matched her season-bests in rebounds (5) and assists (2) while recording a block
- Forward Kilah Freelon registered 12 points to go with a season-high three steals
- Carys Baker and Mackenzie Nelson rounded out the scoring with 10 points apiece
- Virginia Tech improves to 4-0 when Nelson dishes out five or more assists in a game
- Freshman Amani Jenkins had a career night, tallying five points alongside five rebounds and three blocks
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech starts their road portion of the schedule on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. as they head up I-81 to take on James Madison.