Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech’s (18-5, 8-3 ACC) decisive second-half effort lifts them to a 76-64 victory over Virginia (15-7, 7-4 ACC) inside Cassell Coliseum Sunday afternoon.
The Hokies extend their win streak to seven games while earning their 13th victory inside Cassell Coliseum, the most under head coach Megan Duffy.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech weathered the Cavaliers’ opening basket by out-scoring Virginia 10-2 over seven minutes of game action. Leila Wells (7:10, 6:44) and Samyha Suffren (3:53, 2:18) each contributed two baskets in the run. Virginia poured in eight unanswered to move back in front for a 12-10 advantage after the first period.
The Hokies found rhythm in the second frame. After facing a six-point deficit, 20-14 at 7:01, Carleigh Wenzel converted a three-point play (6:41) and knocked down a triple (5:14) to even things up at 20-all. Off the bench, Kayl Petersen was able to keep Tech ahead after turning around for a layup with 3:02 remaining before grabbing the loose ball for a steal and hitting Suffren in stride for a score in transition. Guard Mackenzie Nelson poured in the final five points of the half for the Hokies, a three-pointer and a pair of shots at the line, to take a slight 30-28 lead into the halftime break.
Tech came out of the break with energy, trading baskets early before creating some separation. With the game knotted at 37-37 at the 7:28 mark, Nelson (7:08) was dished the ball, drove down the lane, and finished a no-look, spinning layup that wowed the Cassell crowd. Carys Baker got into the scoring action with five quick points off a fast break lay-in (6:16) and a quick trigger three-pointer (6:16) to push the Hokies’ margin to 44-37. Nelson contributed the final four points of the third frame as Tech’s edge grew to 55-50.
Virginia Tech took control in the fourth quarter, using aggressive drives and second chance points to stretch the lead. Kilah Freelon strung together four points with two makes at the charity stripe and a basket in the paint to increase the advantage back to seven, 63-56 at 6:16. In the final two and a half minutes in the game, the Hokies were able to reach the double figure margin as Suffren collected a turnover and turned it into a basket. After Virginia cut the deficit to 68-60 at 1:37, Baker (1:13) delivered the dagger as she nailed a shot from beyond the arc. Tech used the free throw line the rest of the way to close out the 76-64 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech recorded its 18th win of the season and is one of three teams in the ACC to reach this threshold
- 16 of the Hokies 18 victories have been decided by double figures
- Tech has held 20 of their 23 opponents below their scoring average at the time of the contest
- Virginia Tech matched their season-low in turnovers with eight
- The Hokies won the battle in the paint, 34-30, and in points off turnovers, 17-14
- Tech kept it close on the boards with the league leaders in rebounding margin (+12.5), but lost the battle 41-40
- Guard Carleigh Wenzel led all players with 23 points for her seventh consecutive double figure scoring performance while dishing five assists and grabbing six rebounds
- Wenzel, who was 12-20 from the free throw line, set a career-high in makes and is the new Cassell Coliseum and program record for free throws attempted in a game
- The previous Cassell record was set by Charleston’s Paula Dolan (19) on Dec. 19, 1981 and the program benchmark was recorded by Nikki Davis (18) on Jan. 24, 2010 at Miami
- Guard Mackenzie Nelson chipped in 15 points to go with five assists
- Samyha Suffren tallied 12 points and grabbed five rebounds
- Forward Carys Baker rounded out the double figure scoring as she poured in 11 points, all in the second half, for her eighth straight game in double digits
- Senior Kilah Freelon pulled down a team-best seven rebounds to go with her six points
- Freshman Aniya Trent swatted away three shots to match her career-high in blocks
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech heads on the road to Notre Dame for a Thursday, Feb. 5 contest at 7 p.m. inside Purcell Pavilion.