Hokie ClubWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Virginia Tech knocked down a season-best 13 three-pointers to rout Wake Forest, 85-57, Saturday evening inside LJVM Coliseum.
The Hokies, who have won five of their six ACC games by at least 20 points, improve to 16-5 overall and 4-2 on the road.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech opened the contest with consecutive three-pointers from Carys Baker (9:28) and Carleigh Wenzel (7:45) to build an early advantage. Momentum swung in Wake Forest’s favor as the Demon Deacons scored eight unanswered points before Wenzel’s layup at 3:53 stopped the run. Kayl Petersen’s defense produced a block on a Demon Deacon three-pointer and a steal that led to a Leila Wells transition layup at 1:04. Wake Forest grabbed an offensive rebound for a second-chance basket in the final seconds of the quarter, sending the Hokies into the break trailing, 15-12.
Virginia Tech came out energized in the second quarter and reclaimed the lead, 18-15, at the 7:35 mark as Baker poured in five of Tech’s first six points. Wake Forest answered by hitting a three-pointer and converting a drive to the rim to seesaw the lead. The Hokies pushed ahead by three on three separate occasions to keep the home team at bay, but a Demon Deacons drive down the lane with six seconds left cut the margin to one as Virginia Tech headed to the locker room in front, 34-33.
Tech opened the second half with a determined 13-2 run, sparked by four points from Mackenzie Nelson and a pair of three-pointers, to stretch the lead to 47-36 at the 5:56 mark. Wake Forest trimmed the deficit to seven with 1:58 remaining in the quarter, but the Hokies closed strong with a 6-0 spurt to take a 57-44 advantage into the fourth.
A barrage of three-pointers broke the game open in the final frame as Virginia Tech hit eight of its 11 attempts (8-11, 0.727) from beyond the arc. Wenzel scored 12 of her 19 points in the quarter and did not miss from long range (4-4) during that stretch. Three other Hokies connected from deep as Virginia Tech outscored Wake Forest 28-13 over the final 10 minutes to seal the 85-57 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech has now won five straight against Wake Forest and picked up their fourth straight at LJVM Coliseum
- The Hokies outscored the Demon Deacons 24-6 in both second chance points and points off fast breaks
- Tech’s starters scored 83.5 percent of the points in the win
- Virginia Tech has made a three-pointer as their first basket in four straight games
- The Hokies had 25 assists on 31 made field goals, their best mark this season
- Tech’s 13 three-pointers, a season-high in makes, is tied for second most in an ACC game this season
- Forward Carys Baker led all players with 20 points and nine rebounds
- It was Baker’s seventh 20-point effort of the season and sixth straight game scoring in double figures, her longest streak of the year
- Guard Carleigh Wenzel contributed five three-pointers, her season and ACC-highs, as part of her 19 points
- Wenzel has poured in five consecutive double figure performances, her longest streak since she put together six to start the 2024-25 season (Nov. 4-23, 2024)
- Leila Wells registered 12 points, her career-best against an ACC opponent
- Senior Kilah Freelon rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 points to go with seven rebounds and two assists
- Mackenzie Nelson got back in the scoring column with nine points while dishing five assists
- Virginia Tech improves to 11-2 and 7-0 when Nelson and Wenzel dishe five or more assists in a game, respectively
- Tech forced 20-plus turnovers for the 12th time this season
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech returns to Cassell Coliseum for two games next week, the first on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. against Pitt.