Virginia Tech (18-5, 8-3 ACC) defeated Virginia (15-7, 7-4 ACC) 76-64 on a day dedicated to 50 seasons of women's basketball in Blacksburg, thanks to Carleigh Wenzel's 23 points and the Hokies' ability to get to the foul line.
Coming into this game, both teams stood at seven wins in conference play but got there in opposite ways. The Cavaliers won their first six ACC games, while the Hokies came in winning their last six. A win for either team would go a long way in making the NCAA tournament, but a loss would leave some ground to make up.
It took time for both offenses to settle into the game, as both teams shot 27.8% from the field, going 5-for-13. The Hokies held a 10-4 lead with two minutes to go in the first quarter, but the Cavaliers ended the frame on an 8-0 run. Virginia led 12-10 at the end of the quarter, with the difference being free throws.
The Hokies and Cavaliers exchanged blows in the second quarter, and things started to pick up. Both teams made two three-pointers, even though their respective percentages were still below 40%.
At this point in the game, the Hokies began to structure their offense around their ability to get to the free throw line. In the second quarter, they shot 11 free-throws and converted eight. Virginia Tech proceeded to shoot 25-of-38 from the line on the night.
Carleigh Wenzel set a program record with 20 free-throw attempts, but only got 12 to fall. Wenzel’s running mate Mackenzie Nelson also went 8-for-12 from the line.
Behind the slow offense and the physicality of the game, the Hokies went into the halftime break with a 30-28 lead. Wenzel led Virginia Tech with nine points and five rebounds.
Wenzel finished the game with 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists. She shot 5-for-18 from the field, including one three-pointer from beyond the arc along with her 12 free throws. Although it was not the most efficient game for Wenzel, she was a key component of Virginia Tech's offensive efforts.
The second half is where the intensity picked up. While the Hokies never gave up the lead after the 7:08-minute mark in the third quarter, the Cavaliers were never out of the game until the final minutes.
Both offenses eventually settled into the game, as Virginia Tech shot 46% and to Virginia's 50% in the third quarter. The two teams also matched with two shots from beyond the arc.
The Hokies' three-pointers came from Carys Baker, as the junior developed a rhythm over time. She finished with 11 points and six rebounds while shooting 3-5 from beyond the arc. Baker's third and final three-pointer proved to be a dagger, as the Cavaliers lost her on defense with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Virginia Tech pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 17-to-8 run, giving the Hokies their largest lead of the game at 14 with less than a minute remaining. Before UVA's Gabby White's final layup with seconds remaining, the Cavaliers' last field goal occurred at the 6:30-minute mark, when Tech led by five.
In the final period, Virginia's offense sputtered, shooting 4-for-14 from the field and 0-for-4 from outside the arc. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, maintained its flow by shooting 6-for-13 and adding eight points from beyond the arc.
Before Virginia Tech seized control, it was Virginia’s Kymora Johnson and Gabby White who kept the Cavaliers in the game. Johnson finished with 19 points on 6-for-16 shooting and four free throws. Gabby White added 15 points and seven rebounds.
The rest of the Cavaliers struggled to find any rhythm, with four falling into foul trouble and Paris Clark fouling out with two minutes to go. Tabitha Amanze was in constant foul trouble, picking up two in the first five minutes of the game. Jillian Brown and Romi Levy also picked up four fouls.
Part of Virginia’s foul trouble was thanks to the ability of Virginia Tech's guards to attack downhill. Wenzel, Nelson, Samyah Suffren, and Leila Wells put constant pressure on the paint, helping the team score 34 points in the lane.
Suffren was another key contributor to Virginia Tech’s offense with 12 points and five rebounds. She was also an active defender against Virginia’s talented guard rotation, helping prevent them from taking over the game at any point.
After starting conference play rocky, the Hokies are rolling after a big rivalry win to extend the winning streak to eight. They look for their ninth consecutive victory with a trip to Notre Dame to take on Hannah Hidalgo and the Fighting Irish on February 5th at 7:00 PM.
