Hokie ClubPALO ALTO, Calif. – Virginia Tech (19-7, 9-5 ACC) put together an all-around performance as they bested Stanford (16-10, 5-8 ACC), 79-67, Thursday evening at Maples Pavilion.
The Hokies took care of the ball, matching their season-low eight turnovers, while dishing 20 assists on 33 made baskets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech and Stanford were in a battle to start the game, as the Cardinal answered every chance by the Hokies with a three-pointer in the first two minutes. Mackenzie Nelson’s flying layup at 6:34 evened the score before Mel Daley’s free throw line jumper at 5:35 put Tech ahead, 10-8. After Stanford pulled ahead by three for the seventh lead change of the quarter, Kilah Freelon’s footwork on the block pulled the Hokies back within one, but Virginia Tech still trailed 16-14 after the first ten minutes.
Carys Baker (9:30) and Samyha Suffren (9:09) led the offensive charge for the Hokies for two quick layups to give the visitors the lead back. The Cardinal built a five-point edge, 29-24 at the 2:36 mark, then Carleigh Wenzel answered with a triple and Freelon finished a fastbreak layup to keep it tight. Stanford pulled ahead again by five, but Baker’s make from beyond the arc with 52 seconds remaining put the Hokies back within two, 34-32, at the end of the half.
Tech was inspired out of the break, outscoring Stanford 28-18 while shooting a fiery 70.6 percent (12-17) from the field overall and 80.0 percent (4-5) from three-point range. Wenzel and Baker gave the Hokies the lead back with consecutive triples, the last at 8:01 to make it 40-38. After the Cardinal clawed back to a four-point advantage, they called a timeout at the 6:20 mark as Wenzel denied Stanford the score and then ran the length of the floor, passing to Nelson for the finish. Virginia Tech went on a 7-0 run that was capped by another Baker three-pointer to push the lead to double figures, 54-44, at 3:43. The Hokies led by as many as 12 in the period before heading into the final frame with a 60-52 advantage
Virginia Tech picked up right where they left off in the third period, as Baker drew contact on her long-range make to push the lead back into double figures just 34 seconds into the frame. Both sides kept exchanging baskets until another seven unanswered points by the Hokies gave Tech its largest advantage of the evening, 74-59, with 4:42 remaining in the contest. Nelson had the last points for the Hokies off her two makes from the charity stripe as Virginia Tech coasted to a 79-67 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech earned its first win in the state of California since Nov. 25, 2006, when they defeated Tennessee Tech 87-52
- The Hokies have dished out 20-or-more assists in eight games this season, their fourth of ACC play
- Tech is 5-0 when five student-athletes score in double figures
- Virginia Tech dominated in the paint, 42-30
- Forward Carys Baker led the offense with a game-best 24 points, matching her career-high, for her second 20-point performance in the last three games
- Baker also led the Hokies on the glass with seven rebounds
- Senior Kilah Freelon finished with 15 points to go with a season-high four assists
- Both guards Carleigh Wenzel and Mackenzie Nelson poured in 13 points
- It was the tenth straight game where Wenzel has scored double digits while dishing out five assists
- Nelson matched her season-high six rebounds and contributed seven assists
- Virginia Tech moves to 10-0 and 14-3 when Wenzel and Nelson record five assists in a game, respectively
- Mel Daley rounded out the double figure scoring with 10 points to go with four rebounds, all off the offensive glass
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech closes out its West Coast trip with a 5 p.m. ET clash at Cal on Sunday, Feb. 15. Coverage is available on ACC Network Extra.