Hokie ClubHARRISONBURG, Va. – In a game that started and ended in back-and-forth fashion, Virginia Tech’s fourth quarter rally was not enough as they fell, 65-56, to James Madison inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech and James Madison traded baskets to open the contest, but a lay-up on the fast break from Carleigh Wenzel (6:44) and two makes from the line by Mackenzie Nelson (5:48) broke the exchange to put the Hokies’ up 7-4. Tech extended their lead to as much as five, 11-6 with 2:27 left in the quarter, after a pair of shots at the stripe from Kilah Freelon, but a three-pointer from the Dukes with 40 seconds remaining evened it up 13-all.
Free throws helped to keep Tech in it as James Madison pushed ahead by six, 21-15, at the 7:14 mark in the second period. The Hokies’ cut their deficit to two, three-times, the first a steal and score by Wenzel (6:43) and last a mid-range jumper from Mel Daley with seven ticks left as they headed into the locker room down, 28-26.
Tech continued to add points at the line to keep it a one-possession game, 30-28, at 8:45 by way of Wenzel. Mackenzie Nelson drove to the hoop on two consecutive trips down the floor, the last with close to six minutes remaining in the third frame, and it would be the last score for the Hokies’ until Kilah Freelon (0:58) worked in the paint for a lay-in. Wenzel corralled the offensive board which she took to the hook and drew contact, converting the three-point play as Tech faced a 45-39 deficit going into the final ten minutes of action.
Virginia Tech came out inspired as Carys Baker knocked down a three-pointer at 9:26 to make it a three-point game, 45-42. The Dukes rallied, but Wenzel fired off a triple and then made two shots at the free throw line to put the Hokies’ ahead, 52-51, with five minutes left in the game. Baker came up clutch again from long-range at 3:36 to see-saw the score back in favor of Tech (55-53). James Madison didn’t let up, scoring seven of their final 11 points at the charity stripe, as Tech fell, 65-56.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech goes to 22-15 in the all-time history with James Madison
- The Dukes have won three-straight against the Hokies, a first in the series
- It was the fourth straight contest where Tech forced 20-or more turnovers
- Carleigh Wenzel posted her second 20-point performance of the season
- Carys Baker (11) and Mackenzie Nelson (10) also ended in double figures
- Nelson totaled four steals, a career-high and game-best
- Kilah Freelon matched her career-best three blocks while also tying her season-high three steals
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech continues their road stretch with a trip to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam tournament. The Hokies first game is against BYU at 5:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 27.