BLACKSBURG, Va. — Buoyed by four double-digit scorers, Virginia Tech women’s basketball rolled over Delaware to the tune of a 101-53 final score Wednesday evening at Cassell Coliseum, leading by as many as 49.
“Thrilled with our effort today,” said Virginia Tech head coach Megan Duffy. “I thought we improved from Monday night’s opener, to get everybody in the scoring column was awesome. Loved our effort and toughness from the defensive end. I thought we disrupted Delaware and a lot of the things they were trying to do.”
How did they improve from Monday’s 85-39 win over NC Central to Wednesday’s 48-point rout?
“I thought Monday’s game, we were just OK,” Duffy explained. “I thought, maybe, it was the opening night, a little bit of nerves coming in. I thought our rotation, when we subbed, we got stronger. We took advantage of Delaware having a couple players out, as well. I thought we blew up a few of their screening sets, which allowed us to get out in transition a little bit. … We put this one-day prep, two games in three days purposely.
“… Delaware was sitting kind of watching us on Monday that they had to be the aggressor, and so I thought there was great value in playing two quick games right off the bat.”
The Hokies’ defense was stifling throughout, holding Delaware (1-0) to 30.8% or worse in each of the first three quarters and forcing 12 blocks — two shy of the single-game program record (14). The Fightin’ Blue Hens ultimately made only 16 of their 56 (28.6%) shots.
Virginia Tech (2-0) shot at or better than 50% in each frame, including a 22-for-35 (62.9%) mark in the middle quarters. The Hokies raced out to a 25-10 advantage after one quarter and strung together a 20-0 run in the second frame en route to their 19th triple-digit game in program history. Virginia Tech cashed in on 25 more field goals despite hoisting only 14 more shots than the Fightin’ Blue Hens.
By the time the halftime horn sounded, the score stood at a lopsided 53-19. The Hokies’ first-half efforts were speared by freshman Jessica Dimaro, who totaled 17 first-half points on 7-of-8 shooting. Dimaro’s averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds after her 13-point, 13-rebound season-opening double-double against NC Central Monday.
Several of Wenzel’s assists went to Dimaro, as the fifth-year guard repeatedly found Dimaro open between gaps in Delaware’s 2-3 zone.
“[Dimaro’s] just insane,” Wenzel said. “Her athleticism, the way she’s able to find the ball, the way she’s able to track it down, but then just running the floor. She’s super athletic and lanky, and it’s easy to find her. she’s going to call for the ball; that’s not necessarily an issue.”
In addition to Dimaro, three other scorers reached double-digits. Wenzel buried six of her 11 looks, dished out four assists, logged two blocks and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe for 18 points. Junior guard Samyha Suffren was 7-of-13 for 16 points, while sophomore forward Amani Jenkins continued a strong start to her second season with a 10-point, seven-rebound outing.
No Hokie played more than Suffren’s 23 minutes, but 11 of Virginia Tech’s 12 available players logged at least 10 minutes, with all 12 seeing the floor and scoring. Even with a 53-19 halftime lead, Virginia Tech — with most of its reserves in — kept chugging along.
“They’re earning it in practice, and the fact that we’ve been able to have some leads and being able to sub is great,” Duffy said. “I also think people are pushing each other and to be able to play as hard as you can for two or three minutes, we can sub and get stronger.”
The Hokies outscored Delaware 48-32 over the final 20 minutes, keeping the Fightin’ Blue Hens in check for the full 40 minutes. In 14 minutes — mostly in the second half — Virginia Tech true freshman Arianna Harris-Mott accumulated five blocks and six rebounds while adding on four points.
Tennessee transfer Alyssa Latham was available for Virginia Tech’s second game, too. The forward finished with five points, three rebounds, two assists, a block and two steals. Duffy declined to comment on specifics regarding her absence from the NC Central game.
“It just gave us a great boost,” Duffy said of Latham. “She can guard multiple types of players, she can guard on the perimeter, she can guard inside.”
Sophomore forward Aniya Trent finished with four points and three rebounds in 11 minutes, though she fouled out. Junior Leila Wells accumulated eight points, three assists and one steal, while Kate Sears finished the game with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting.
Virginia Tech finished with 20 assists against just 10 turnovers while allowing only two steals. On the other end, the Hokies forced 23 turnovers, converting them into 34 points. Delaware, meanwhile, managed just five points off Tech’s giveaways.
Virginia Tech also finished with commanding advantages in the paint (66-22), second-chance points (26-7) and fastbreak points (20-0). The Hokies’ 101 points were the most they had scored since Jan. 9, 2025, in a 105-94 double-overtime upset of No. 13 Georgia Tech.
The Hokies will host James Madison on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra. Virginia Tech played the Dukes on the road in Harrisonburg last year and lost 65-56.
James Madison eventually made the NCAA Tournament and won the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships, ending the year with a 26-9 (14-4 Sun Belt) record. The Dukes lost to No. 5 seed Kentucky – and former Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks – in the opening round 71-56.
This year, JMU is 0-1 after a 59-52 loss to Miami (Ohio) in the MAC-SBC Challenge. James Madison hosts Central Connecticut State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET before venturing down I-81 to take on the Hokies.
