Tech falls 70-54 to Duke in ACC openerTech falls 70-54 to Duke in ACC opener
Women's Basketball

Tech falls 70-54 to Duke in ACC opener

The Hokies have forced 20 or more turnovers in seven of the last eight games

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Box Score

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech dropped their ACC opening contest, 70-54, to Duke inside Cassell Coliseum Sunday afternoon.

The Hokies move to 7-3 on the season and 6-1 in games played on their home court.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia Tech battled through a defensive opening frame, holding Duke to 30 percent shooting. Carleigh Wenzel and Samyha Suffren provided early energy for the Hokies, combining for eight of Tech’s 12 points. Tech briefly took a one-point lead at the 2:24 mark on Suffren’s fast-break lay-in, but the Blue Devils closed the quarter on a 5-2 run to hold the Hokies off, 14-12.

Turnovers continued to prove costly for both sides as there were a combined 23 committed through the first 20 minutes of action. Duke was able to execute a seven-point advantage, 25-18, with 5:03 left to go in the first half off a Tech miscue. The Hokies were able to respond on the perimeter as Carys Baker (4:14) and Wenzel (3:33) hit back-to-back triples to cut the deficit to three, 27-24. Suffren chipped in a pair of key baskets while Kayl Petersen gave Tech a lift on the glass with a putback (1:13), but Duke’s late surge created an eight-point halftime margin, 34-26.

The duo of Wenzel (8:05) and Baker (7:17) helped Tech keep pace with their consecutive long-range shots to start the second half. Leila Wells gave Tech a spark with four points in the period, but the Blue Devils’ 22-point quarter pushed the margin to 15, 56-41, entering the final frame. Duke edged the Hokies on the glass, 13-3, to fuel their 58.3 shooting percentage (7-12).

Virginia Tech continued to battle but couldn’t cut into the deficit. The Hokies held Duke to just 14 points in the final frame and saw strong defensive plays from Kilah Freelon and Petersen at the rim. Freelon and Wenzel added points at the line, and Tech’s effort on the offensive glass created additional looks, but Duke maintained control throughout the quarter.

GAME NOTES

  • Virginia Tech dropped their first contest to Duke inside Cassell Coliseum since Jan. 18, 2018
  • The Hokies were held to their lowest point total of the season
  • Tech has forced 20 or more turnovers in seven of the last eight games
  • The last three games where Tech only made 17 or fewer field goals were all against Duke (Jan. 26, 2023, Jan. 18, 2024, and Dec. 7, 2025)
  • Guard Carleigh Wenzel led Tech with 15 points with three triples and remained perfect at the free throw line (4-4)
  • Forward Carys Baker added a career-high four blocks to go with her five rebounds off the defensive glass
  • Mel Daley chipped in two makes from the charity stripe to remain a perfect 10-10 from the line in the last three contests while matching her season-best four steals
  • Tech’s bench provided a lift, out-scoring Duke's bench, 18-11

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech returns to non-conference play with a Wednesday, Dec. 10 meeting with Presbyterian. That game, broadcast on ACCNX will tip-off  at 6 p.m.