Hokie ClubCHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Down by one with 1.7 seconds left in the game, guard Carleigh Wenzel sunk the game-winning free throws to help Virginia Tech to an 83-82 victory inside John Paul Jones Arena Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Virginia Tech earns the sweep of Commonwealth Clash rival Virginia for the first time since the 2022-23 season. It was the first time since Nov. 23, 2003, that a game between the Hokies and Cavaliers was decided by one point, a 63-62 victory for Tech.
The Hokies improve to 22-8 overall and 12-6 in the ACC. It is just the fifth time that Tech has ended the regular season with double-digit wins in conference play as a member of the ACC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech rattled off 13 straight points in response to the Cavaliers’ opening floater. In a run that forced Virginia to regroup at the 6:47 mark, Carys Baker hit two three-pointers while Leila Wells forced her way through the paint and made her long-range shot. The Hokies’ push continued as Baker (3:23) saw her third triple of the game fall through before Carleigh Wenzel (2:17) drilled a three-pointer from the corner off a baseline out-of-bounds play to push the advantage to 23-13. Wenzel then hit a long jumper as time was expiring in the period to keep Tech ahead, 27-13.
In less than two minutes, Mel Daley scored six of the Hokies’ eight points, her last a steal for a fast break layup at 8:03, causing the Cavaliers to burn their second timeout of the game as Tech stayed ahead, 35-16. After six straight points for Virginia, Wenzel (2:20) drained another three-pointer to stop the run. Two free throws and a layup from the Cavaliers closed the half as Tech took a 43-28 advantage into the locker room.
Out of the break, Virginia came out attacking for eight unanswered points to close to 43-36 at the 7:49 mark. On the following possession, Mackenzie Nelson (7:35) registered a three-pointer to keep the Hokies ahead by ten. The Cavaliers kept chipping away, but Virginia Tech was able to maintain a 10-point margin for most of the third period, as Daley (1:59) hit a contested mid-range shot. Virginia released a long-range shot, and it fell through the net as the shot clock range to close in within four, 61-57, headed into the final period.
Wenzel started the final frame with a bang, knocking down a triple just eight seconds in. The Cavaliers answered with seven straight points to knot the game at 64-all with 8:15 remaining. Out of a timeout, Kilah Freelon (7:51, 7:21) converted two second-chance baskets, and Nelson (6:50) made two free throws to keep the Hokies ahead, 70-64. Virginia’s basket at 4:47 made it a one-point game, 72-71, until two consecutive layups from Nelson pushed Tech’s lead back to five, 76-71, at 3:51. Down the stretch, the Cavaliers recorded a three-point play to tie the score at 81-all with 1:08 remaining and then hit the go-ahead free throw for their first lead since the start of the contest with 24 ticks left. After an offensive play call to set up a scoring chance with less than six seconds remaining, Wenzel was fouled on her way to the basket and calmly converted both free throws. Her last make was all Tech needed, as Virginia was unable to score on its final possession, sealing the thrilling 83-82 victory
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech has not lost a game this season when five or more players score in double-figures, moving to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in ACC games
- All three of the wins where five Hokies scored in double figures were all Quad 1 games on the road (Jan. 8 at Syracuse, Feb. 12 at Stanford, and Mar. 1 at Virginia)
- Guard Carleigh Wenzel poured in a career-high 29 points, encompassing four triples and nine makes at the stripe
- Her 29 points are the most by any Hokie since Georgia Amoore recorded 39 on March 3, 2024, at Virginia
- Carys Baker followed with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks
- Off the bench, Mel Daley provided a lift with 11 points, three rebounds, and two steals
- Kilah Freelon and Mackenzie Nelson rounded out the double figure scoring with 10 points each
- Nelson notched her second career double-double as she added 11 assists
- Virginia Tech is 16-3 when Nelson dishes out five or more assists in a game and 9-2 when she records seven or more
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech is headed to the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament held at Gas South Arena. The Hokies are slated as the No. 6 seed and will play the winner of No. 11 Georgia Tech/#14 Florida State on Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network.