[caption id="attachment_4416" align="aligncenter" width="700"]![Students During a VT Free Throw Against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor]](//techlunchpail.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/vt-students-against-ole-miss.jpg?w=700)
Students During a VT Free Throw Against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor][/caption]The 24th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies went on the road to take on the Auburn Tigers in what was the last significant challenge on the Hokies' schedule before the start of ACC play. Virginia Tech entered this game 10-0 in what has been an impressive start to the Kenny Brooks era, but the Hokies were in for their biggest challenge yet this season on the road in the heart of SEC country.
However, the Hokies were up for the challenge and got their 11th-straight victory to start the Kenny Brooks era.
The 24th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies beat the Auburn Tigers 92-87 in overtime to go to 11-0 on the season with the Hokies very likely to jump in the rankings at least a few spots after the big road victory. The Hokies have proven to be one of the biggest surprises in women's college basketball this year, and are also looking like one of the top teams in the ACC and a team that can not only make the NCAA Tournament, but do some damage upon arrival.
The Hokies only led by three at halftime after a first half in which the Hokies led by 11 at one point in the first quarter with Auburn also taking the lead for parts of the second quarter. Virginia Tech opened it up some in the third and first half of the fourth quarters, but Auburn clawed their way back into it. The critical moment in the fourth happened inside the final 15 seconds when VT got the rebound after a missed free throw while up 3, but turned it over immediately with Auburn's Janiah McKay getting the ball and a three-point play to tie the game up and send it to overtime.
Virginia Tech bounced back in overtime and with the Hokies down 2 early in the extra period, Chanette Hicks draw a big foul on McKay to end her game after she had a career high 28 points. Auburn's offense was not nearly as effective after that while Hicks stepped up and took over in overtime with 11 of Virginia Tech's 15 points in OT on the Hokies' way to getting the victory 92-87.
Hicks is emerging as not only a star for the Hokies, but also as one of the star players of the ACC with a VT record-tying 13 assists to go with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals. Hicks did also have 7 turnovers in this game, but was stellar outside of that doing a great job in some of the biggest moments especially in overtime while also going 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Hicks definitely has a future in the WNBA and has the talent to lead the Hokies to some big things early in the Kenny Brooks era.
Sidney Cook continues to be a reliable frontcourt presence for the Hokies leading Virginia Tech with 23 points in addition to having 8 rebounds while Regan Magarity had another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but fouled out in the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech's starting frontcourt duo continues to give plenty of opponents matchup issues with both players being solid dribblers and able to stretch the floor to create lanes for Hicks to attack the rim with.
Vanessa Panousis had 20 points on 6-for-14 shooting including 5-for-12 from beyond the arc and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Sami Hill had 6 points and 3 rebounds to round out the starting 5 while Kendyl Brooks had 9 points off the bench and Tara Nahodil had 4 points in her season debut. Having Nahodil back is a big boost for Virginia Tech's frontcourt depth that was extremely thin and is still fairly thin with Nahodil and Erinn Brooks being the only backup forwards to have played this season.
Virginia Tech outrebounded Auburn 37-26 including 10-8 on the offensive glass while their three-point shooting made a big difference as they went 12-for-27 from deep compared to 7-for-17 for Auburn while the Hokies also went an impressive 14-for-17 from the free-throw line. Turnovers were a big issue for the Hokies with 22 today including a big late one in the fourth quarter that was critical in forcing overtime, and will have to improve that in road ACC games.
Virginia Tech's win on the road against Auburn may be their most impressive yet even more than the Tennessee win given how this came on the road in what was not necessarily an easy place to play. Virginia Tech also learned from their fourth quarter mistake and did a much better job of closing out the game in overtime against a quality opponent.
With 2 non-conference games left against Radford and Delaware State before ACC play, 13-0 seems extremely likely in what has been a tremendous start for Kenny Brooks in his first year at Virginia Tech. Already, Brooks has to be the early frontrunner to be the ACC Coach of the Year, and is already validating not only Whit Babcock's decision to hire him but also the immense praise Babcock received immediately after his hiring from analysts.
If you haven't kept up with Virginia Tech women's hoops, it's time you do. Virginia Tech has a serious winner with Brooks leading a Virginia Tech team that is already made serious improvements in year 1 and will be a major threat in the ACC.
Stay up with The Tech Lunch Pail for the latest on the Hokies via Facebook and Twitter plus subscribe to our email updates.
![Students During a VT Free Throw Against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor]](http://techlunchpail.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/vt-students-against-ole-miss.jpg)
Students During a VT Free Throw Against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor][/caption]The 24th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies went on the road to take on the Auburn Tigers in what was the last significant challenge on the Hokies' schedule before the start of ACC play. Virginia Tech entered this game 10-0 in what has been an impressive start to the Kenny Brooks era, but the Hokies were in for their biggest challenge yet this season on the road in the heart of SEC country.
However, the Hokies were up for the challenge and got their 11th-straight victory to start the Kenny Brooks era.
The 24th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies beat the Auburn Tigers 92-87 in overtime to go to 11-0 on the season with the Hokies very likely to jump in the rankings at least a few spots after the big road victory. The Hokies have proven to be one of the biggest surprises in women's college basketball this year, and are also looking like one of the top teams in the ACC and a team that can not only make the NCAA Tournament, but do some damage upon arrival.
The Hokies only led by three at halftime after a first half in which the Hokies led by 11 at one point in the first quarter with Auburn also taking the lead for parts of the second quarter. Virginia Tech opened it up some in the third and first half of the fourth quarters, but Auburn clawed their way back into it. The critical moment in the fourth happened inside the final 15 seconds when VT got the rebound after a missed free throw while up 3, but turned it over immediately with Auburn's Janiah McKay getting the ball and a three-point play to tie the game up and send it to overtime.
Virginia Tech bounced back in overtime and with the Hokies down 2 early in the extra period, Chanette Hicks draw a big foul on McKay to end her game after she had a career high 28 points. Auburn's offense was not nearly as effective after that while Hicks stepped up and took over in overtime with 11 of Virginia Tech's 15 points in OT on the Hokies' way to getting the victory 92-87.
Hicks is emerging as not only a star for the Hokies, but also as one of the star players of the ACC with a VT record-tying 13 assists to go with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals. Hicks did also have 7 turnovers in this game, but was stellar outside of that doing a great job in some of the biggest moments especially in overtime while also going 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Hicks definitely has a future in the WNBA and has the talent to lead the Hokies to some big things early in the Kenny Brooks era.
Sidney Cook continues to be a reliable frontcourt presence for the Hokies leading Virginia Tech with 23 points in addition to having 8 rebounds while Regan Magarity had another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but fouled out in the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech's starting frontcourt duo continues to give plenty of opponents matchup issues with both players being solid dribblers and able to stretch the floor to create lanes for Hicks to attack the rim with.
Vanessa Panousis had 20 points on 6-for-14 shooting including 5-for-12 from beyond the arc and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Sami Hill had 6 points and 3 rebounds to round out the starting 5 while Kendyl Brooks had 9 points off the bench and Tara Nahodil had 4 points in her season debut. Having Nahodil back is a big boost for Virginia Tech's frontcourt depth that was extremely thin and is still fairly thin with Nahodil and Erinn Brooks being the only backup forwards to have played this season.
Virginia Tech outrebounded Auburn 37-26 including 10-8 on the offensive glass while their three-point shooting made a big difference as they went 12-for-27 from deep compared to 7-for-17 for Auburn while the Hokies also went an impressive 14-for-17 from the free-throw line. Turnovers were a big issue for the Hokies with 22 today including a big late one in the fourth quarter that was critical in forcing overtime, and will have to improve that in road ACC games.
Virginia Tech's win on the road against Auburn may be their most impressive yet even more than the Tennessee win given how this came on the road in what was not necessarily an easy place to play. Virginia Tech also learned from their fourth quarter mistake and did a much better job of closing out the game in overtime against a quality opponent.
With 2 non-conference games left against Radford and Delaware State before ACC play, 13-0 seems extremely likely in what has been a tremendous start for Kenny Brooks in his first year at Virginia Tech. Already, Brooks has to be the early frontrunner to be the ACC Coach of the Year, and is already validating not only Whit Babcock's decision to hire him but also the immense praise Babcock received immediately after his hiring from analysts.
If you haven't kept up with Virginia Tech women's hoops, it's time you do. Virginia Tech has a serious winner with Brooks leading a Virginia Tech team that is already made serious improvements in year 1 and will be a major threat in the ACC.
Stay up with The Tech Lunch Pail for the latest on the Hokies via Facebook and Twitter plus subscribe to our email updates.
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