BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech wasted little time turning its season opener into a showcase of its defensive pressure and offensive depth.
Carleigh Wenzel scored a team-high 17 points, Jessica Dimaro delivered a double-double in her collegiate debut and six Hokies finished in double figures as Virginia Tech defeated NC Central 85-39 on Monday night at Cassell Coliseum.
“Proud of our team, six in double figures,” head coach Megan Duffy said. “I thought defensively we got better as the game went on.”
The Hokies seized control with a 17-0 first-quarter run, turning a 4-4 tie into a 21-4 advantage. Leila Wells opened that stretch with a 3-pointer, while freshman Kaleo Anderson contributed a transition basket and a 3-pointer before Wenzel capped it with a three-point play.
Virginia Tech later assembled a separate 14-0 run spanning the first and second quarters. Wenzel’s 3-pointer finished that burst, extending the lead to 41-10. By halftime, the Hokies held a 47-14 advantage.
Those stretches reflected the defensive connectivity Duffy wanted to establish immediately. The Hokies disrupted NC Central’s offense, communicated through adjustments and created opportunities to attack before the Eagles could get set.
“I thought we got them out of their motion and their movement,” Duffy said. “The biggest thing coming into this game was to really lock into our one-on-one defense.”
Virginia Tech forced 29 turnovers and finished with a 30-4 advantage in fast-break points. NC Central missed all 13 of its field-goal attempts in the second quarter and went 0-for-11 from 3-point range for the game.
Duffy credited her guards’ positioning and the team’s ability to implement changes coming out of timeouts. With limited film available on an opponent playing under a new coach, preparation had to translate into quick decisions.
“Before there’s a lot of stuff on film, you’ve got to go on the fly a little bit and trust that preparation,” Duffy said.
Wenzel led a balanced scoring effort that included 13 points apiece from Dimaro and Amani Jenkins, 12 from Wells and 11 each from Anderson and Samyha Suffren. Jenkins finished a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.
Duffy praised Wenzel’s offensive balance, pointing to her willingness to shoot from outside, attack the basket and reach the free-throw line. For Jenkins, the performance reflected improvements in conditioning and a series of productive practices.
“I always say I don’t care who we play, a freshman, a senior,” Duffy said. “It’s about production. It’s about your effort, your toughness. And Amani deserved those minutes.”
Dimaro provided one of the evening’s most encouraging performances. The freshman paired her 13 points with 13 rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass, immediately giving Virginia Tech a presence around the basket.
“She has a motor. She cares about rebounding. She wants to be great defensively,” Duffy said. “I thought she set the tone for our team right off the bat.”
Duffy said Dimaro is still adjusting to the differences between basketball in Japan and the American college game. Extra film work, individual repetitions and questions about the offense have been part of that transition.
Her athleticism and willingness to run the floor already offer possibilities beyond rebounding. Duffy noted that Dimaro even initiated the break a couple of times — though it did make her nervous — creating opportunities that could eventually help the Hokies’ guards and deepen their interior rotation.
Anderson also showed the confidence Duffy has seen in practice, giving Virginia Tech another freshman capable of contributing immediately.
“In some ways, she has no fear as a young player coming in,” Duffy said.
The opener also marked Kate Sears’ return to game action. Despite a difficult shooting night, Sears impressed Duffy with her feel, versatility and composure.
“She’s a competitor. She’s a warrior,” Duffy said. “She’s going to help us win a lot of games this year.”
With a quick turnaround before Wednesday’s game, Duffy emphasized that there remains plenty to address. Still, Monday gave the Hokies a chance to establish their defensive approach and introduce their newcomers in front of the home crowd.
“I thought we were a little jittery in the beginning,” Duffy said, “but I thought settled down nicely to get the first win.”
