Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech led by as many as 18 before Miami stormed back in the fourth quarter and overtime to hand the Hokies a 75-67 loss inside Cassell Coliseum Thursday evening.
Tech moves to 11-4 on the season and 9-2 in games played on their home court.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech set the tone early after exploding on a 10-0 run that saw back-to-back three-pointers from Carleigh Wenzel to force the Hurricanes to regroup. Miami responded with six unanswered points to draw within two, 12-10, with 3:27 remaining. Two more timely triples, one from Mackenzie Nelson (3:06) and the other from Carys Baker (2:15), helped Tech to an 18-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Hokies were balanced in the second period as six players contributed to the 15-point total. Both sides had an answer for each other until a six-point stint started at the 3:34 mark by Kilah Freelon’s dash through the lane for a layup. Virginia Tech ended the first half up, 33-19, after Leila Wells (0:11) hustled for the second chance basket. The crowd continued to roar as Nelson (0:02) drew a charge, preventing a last-second shot from the Hurricanes. The Hokies defense held Miami to 2-17 (0.118) shooting in the second frame.
It was a back-and-forth game to kick off the second half until Tech pushed the margin to 18 (49-31), their largest of the game, until Kayl Petersen (3:35) backed down the defender to drive to the hoop. The Hokies were outscored 8-2 in the remainder of the quarter, but stayed ahead, 51-39, going into the fourth period.
Tech pushed ahead to a 15-point lead after Wenzel (8:49) drained her fourth three-pointer of the contest, but Miami answered with their first long-range make of the contest on the next possession. The Hurricanes strung together nine unanswered points and were halted momentarily by Nelson’s (3:25) trey but scored nine more after to take the lead. Freelon had the game-tying layup, 62-62, with 51 seconds remaining to force overtime.
The Hurricanes started the scoring in the extra period and mid-range shots from Mel Daley (3:51) and Freelon (2:19) helped to keep the Hokies within a two-point reach, 68-66. Tech was limited offensively down the stretch, falling 75-67.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech matched their season-high total with nine made three-pointers
- The Hokies held the Hurricanes to a 13.3 shooting percentage from long-range, the lowest by an opponent this season
- Miami’s 19 first-half points were the fewest by an ACC opponent against Tech this season
- Tech only totaled two steals in the contest, a season-low
- This was Virginia Tech’s first loss to Miami in Blacksburg since Jan. 28, 2018
- Carleigh Wenzel matched her season-best four triples while leading Tech with 16 points
- Forward Kilah Freelon posted 13 points as she shot 60 percent from the field (6-10) and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds
- Grad student Mel Daley rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points
- Guard Mackenize Nelson set career-high marks in rebounds (6) and three-pointers (3) and dished out a game-best eight assists
- Virginia Tech drops to 8-2 when Nelson dishes five or more assists in a contest
- Freshman Aniya Trent grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots, both were career-bests and team-highs
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech hits the road for two games, the first on Sunday, Jan. 4 at No. 13 Louisville. The game will be nationally broadcast at 4 p.m. on ACC Network.