All-around effort paces Tech past SMU, 79-42All-around effort paces Tech past SMU, 79-42
Women's Basketball

All-around effort paces Tech past SMU, 79-42

Samyha Suffren scored a career-high 18 points in the road win

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DALLAS – Virginia Tech cruised past SMU, 79-42, inside Moody Coliseum Thursday evening.

The Hokies improve to 14-5 overall and 4-3 in ACC play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia Tech sprinted out for eight straight points, starting with an open three-pointer from Leila Wells (8:39) and capped by Carleigh Wenzel’s (7:03) trey. SMU cut its deficit to two points twice, the last time with a layup at 4:13 to make it a 10-8 game. The Hokies scored the final six points of the quarter, with four from Mel Daley, to take a 16-8 lead into the second frame.

Kilah Freelon recorded the first six points for Tech to open the second quarter, but the Mustangs seemed to have an answer every time. Daley (5:24) chipped in a long mid-range shot before SMU closed to 24-17 with a pair of makes from the line. The Hokies scored eight of the last 10 points in the half to head into the locker room with a 32-19 advantage.

Tech came out of the break hot, hitting back-to-back triples from Carys Baker (9:50) and Wenzel (9:16), which forced the Mustangs to burn a timeout early. After the regroup, Baker drained another shot from beyond the arc, continuing to stretch the Hokies’ lead. Free throws carried Virginia Tech in the period, as the Hokies went 8-10 (80.0 percent) from the stripe, before two quick baskets from Wenzel and Samyha Suffren in the final minute gave the road team a 57-33 edge.

Virginia Tech kept its foot on the gas in the final period, continuing to share the ball well and attack the paint. Baker contributed seven points while Suffren chipped in six as the Hokies’ defense limited SMU to just nine points in the quarter. Tech closed the game on a 15-0 run to secure the 79-42 victory.

GAME NOTES

  • Virginia Tech has won their third straight ACC game by 20-plus points
  • SMU’s 42 points were the fewest by an ACC opponent under Duffy and of this season 
  • 21 of Virginia Tech’s 30 field goals were assisted
  • The Hokies dominated the glass as they pulled down 50 rebounds in the contest 
  • Tech forced 20-plus turnovers for the tenth time this season
  • Virginia Tech scored 40 points in the paint for the second consecutive game
  • Guard Samyha Suffren stuffed the box score with a career-high 18 points, five rebounds, three steals, and a career-best two blocks
  • Forward Kilah Freelon also totaled 18 points, matching her career-best, and pulled down nine rebounds
  • Junior Carys Baker finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists
  • All 15 of Baker’s points were scored in the second half
  • Redshirt junior Carleigh Wenzel rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points
  • Guard Mel Daley was impactful off the bench with eight points, seven rebounds, and two assists
  • Mackenzie Nelson dished out five assists in the contest
  • Virginia Tech improves to 10-2 when Nelson dishes five or more assists in a game

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech will resume action next Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. against Clemson inside Cassell Coliseum.