Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech opened the 2026-27 season in convincing fashion Monday night, defeating NC Central 85-39 on Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.
Tech’s defensive pressure fueled its offensive production throughout the night. The Hokies recorded 12 steals, converted turnovers into transition opportunities and finished with 30 fast-break points. They also held the Eagles to 23.3 percent shooting from the floor.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech set the tone early, answering an opening basket from the Eagles to take control of the first quarter. Jessica Dimaro scored on a layup at 8:29 and added a second-chance finish at 7:58, while Samyha Suffren converted a three-point play at 5:40 to help spark the Hokies. Leila Wells (7:23) and Kaleo Anderson (3:24) added perimeter baskets as Tech built a 21-4 lead, aided by a 12-0 run over a nearly five-minute stretch. Virginia Tech used defensive pressure and transition opportunities to build a 32-10 advantage after the opening 10 minutes.
Virginia Tech’s defense continued to create problems for the Eagles in the second quarter. Following an NC Central turnover, Suffren raced down the floor for a fast-break layup at 3:42. Dimaro then took advantage of another turnover, finishing a transition layup off a Kate Sears assist to give the Hokies a 45-11 advantage with 3:27 remaining. Anderson added a layup with 22 seconds left to send the Hokies into halftime with a 47-14 lead.
The Eagles managed just four points in the period, going 0-for-13 from the floor. It marked the first time a Virginia Tech opponent had gone without a field goal in a quarter since Radford went 0-for-15 in the third quarter on Dec. 10, 2023.
Coming out of the break, Wells knocked down a three-pointer off an Aniya Trent assist at 9:21 before Dimaro secured an offensive rebound and finished at the rim at 8:54. Suffren converted a steal into a fast-break layup on the Hokies’ next offensive possession, and Carleigh Wenzel followed with consecutive transition baskets at 5:16 and 4:43 as Tech continued to capitalize on turnovers. Francesca Baldassarre added a three-pointer late in the period, extending Virginia Tech’s lead to 72-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
Virginia Tech closed out the season-opening victory with another strong defensive effort. Wells opened the final period with a steal and a driving layup, while Amani Jenkins added consecutive baskets, the second a fast break finish off a Sears assist with 6:47 remaining. Anderson contributed a driving layup in the final 70 seconds, and the Hokies maintained their advantage to secure the 85-39 win.
GAME NOTES
• Virginia Tech posted its 13th season-opening win in a row and 14th consecutive home-opening victory
• The Hokies improve to 43-8 in home-openers at Cassell Coliseum
• Tech’s win moved head coach Megan Duffy to 10-0 in the first game played in the season
• Virginia Tech has now posted 80 or more points in four of the five meetings in series history while limiting NC Central to its lowest point total in a meeting with the Hokies
• The Hokies defense forced 29 turnovers, the most by a Duffy led Virginia Tech team
• It was also the third-fewest points allowed with Duffy at the helm
• Tech took advantage in the paint, out-scoring NC Central 52-20
• Six players finished in double figures, a program first since Dec. 31, 2023, at Pitt
• Carleigh Wenzel led the way with 17 points, her most in a season-opening game
• Both Jessica Dimaro and Amani Jenkins finished with 13 points
• Dimaro added 13 rebounds for her first career double-double, the first 13-point, 13-rebound double-double by a true freshman since Elizabeth Kitley had 21 points and 14 rebounds on Feb. 16, 2020, against Wake Forest
• It was also the fifth time in program history that a player posted a double-double in their Virginia Tech debut and was the second in as many seasons
• Jenkins, who totaled a career-high in points, was a perfect 5-5 from the field
• Leila Wells stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block
• Rounding out the scoring, both Samyha Suffren and Kaleo Anderson added 11 points each
• Sophomore’s Kate Sears and Aniya Trent dished out five assists, a game-high, apiece
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech continues opening week with Delaware on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.