Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – In a game of runs, Virginia Tech used long scoring stretches in both the second and third quarters to secure a 73-55 victory over ETSU Sunday afternoon inside Cassell Coliseum.
After trailing by six points after the first period, the Hokies outscored the Buccaneers 47-25 in the next two frames to pull away for the win, improving to 9-3 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech’s offense set the pace to start the contest, as Kilah Freelon scored five seconds into the game after she won the opening tip for the Hokies. Both sides traded scores and the lead until Mackenzie Nelson evened it up 7-7 at 7:59 when she knocked down a shot from the perimeter. ETSU bounced back with a 6-1 run to hold the Hokies off, 16-10, at the end of the first quarter.
Tech started to gain momentum in the second quarter off Carleigh Wenzel’s step-back jumper (6:28), followed by a three-pointer from Carys Baker (5:41) to knot the game back up at 20-all. The triple from Baker ignited a 10-0 run from the Hokies capped by Nelson’s steal and score at 2:59 to grab the energy back from the Buccaneers. ETSU mostly dug their way out of the deficit, but Freelon got the ball to Nelson for a layup with four seconds remaining in the half to give Virginia Tech the 32-27 edge at the end of the first half.
The Hokies delivered their most decisive quarter of the game out of the break, scoring 25 points in the 10-minute frame while hitting eight shots from the free throw line (8-10, 0.800). After a three-point play from the Buccaneers, Virginia Tech scored 15 unanswered points. It started with a second-chance floater (8:44) and ended with two makes at the charity stripe (5:19), both actions by Baker who scored 11 of the points in the run. Mel Daley made significant contributions in the third frame as well, totaling eight points with four from the line, to give the Hokies a 57-41 lead moving into the fourth period.
Virginia Tech maintained control in the final quarter despite matching ETSU nearly basket-for-basket. Freelon had three straight points while Baker chipped in two more free throws to keep the Hokies ahead by 18. Tech created a 20-point margin three times, their largest of 22 with 2:20 left, as Aniya Trent dished to Baker for an easy mid-range jumper to help the Hokies to a 73-55 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech won their sixth straight meeting against ETSU, extending their series-best winning streak
- The Hokies controlled all five specialty stat categories and dominated with a 12-0 advantage in fastbreak points
- It was the seventh time this season where Tech held an opponent to under 60 points in a game
- Tech recorded seven blocks for the third straight game and fourth time this season, their best total so far in the 2025-26 campaign
- Forward Carys Baker led all players with 22 points for her third 20-plus point performance of the season
- Graduate student Mel Daley reached 13 points in 22 minutes, scoring seven of her points at the charity stripe (7-11, 0.636)
- Guard Samyha Suffren recorded her second consecutive double figure performance, chipping in 12 points and a career-high four steals
- Guard Mackenize Nelson registered eight assists to go along with seven points, three rebounds, three steals, and a block
- Tech improves to 6-1 when Nelson dished five or more assists in a contest
- Freshman Aniya Trent posted career marks in rebounds (7), assists (3), and blocks (2) in her time on the floor
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech gets back into ACC action, this time on the road at Florida State on Thursday, Dec. 18. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. on ACCNX.