Hokie ClubDALLAS – 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 was able to cut their deficit to two points twice, the last with their layup at 4:13 to make it a 10-8 game. The Hokies scored the final six points of the quarter with four from the hands of Mel Daley to give them a 16-8 lift headed into the second frame.
Kilah Freelon recorded the first six points for Tech to open the second frame, but the Mustangs seemed to have an answer every time. Daley (5:24) chipped in a long mid-range shot before SMU closed in, 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 the 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 in turn forced the Mustangs to burn a timeout early. After the regroup, Baker drained another shot from beyond the arc, continuing to push the Hokies lead. Free throws carried Virginia Tech in the period, going 8-10 (0.800) from the stripe, before two quick baskets from Wenzel and Samyha Suffren in the final minute gave the road team a 57-33 edge.
It was all Hokies in the fourth period as they out-scored SMU, 22-9, to close out the win. Baker contributed seven points while Suffren chipped in six.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will resume action next Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. against Clemson inside Cassell Coliseum.