Hokie ClubNOTRE DAME, Ind. – Virginia Tech dropped an 80-70 contest Thursday evening to Notre Dame inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
Tech moves to 18-6 on the season and 4-3 in true road games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech went on an 8-0 run in response to Notre Dame’s floater to start the game. Carleigh Wenzel scored five of the points in the stretch, including a three-pointer at the 7:24 mark. The Fighting Irish then scored eight of the next ten points to claim a 10-9 advantage with 5:21 remaining in the period. As both teams traded scores, Wenzel hit two clutch triples (3:21, 2:44) to put the Hokies back in front. Leila Wells converted a shot at the line at 2:15, the last score of the frame for either side, as Tech held the 21-14 lead.
The Hokies saw each of their scores followed by four points from the Fighting Irish as they closed to 25-22 (6:33). On the next offensive set for Virginia Tech, Mackenzie Nelson was left wide open beyond the arc for a triple before Carys Baker took to the lane for a layup to keep Tech ahead, 30-22 with 5:27 remaining in the half. Notre Dame closed with two, 32-30 at 3:15, to make things interesting but the Hokies scored the final four points of the half to take the 36-30 advantage into the break.
Tech pushed the margin to eight as Baker (9:30) had a quick release for a three-pointer within the first 30 seconds of the second half. Notre Dame reeled off 11 unanswered points to move back, 45-41 at the 5:45 mark. Baker then hit two more triples in the quarter, her last at 1:48 to knot the game up 49-all. The Fighting Irish knocked down consecutive shots from long-range before Baker’s mid-ranger jumper closed the Hokies’ deficit to 55-51 going into the fourth frame.
Virginia Tech kept pushing the pace in the fourth quarter as Baker drilled her fourth three-pointer of the evening, making it a one-point game, 55-54 (9:21). The Fighting Irish kept trying to pull away and were answered every drive by the Hokies. Baker (7:06) hit her season-best fifth triple of the evening before Notre Dame (6:50) answered with one of their own to extend the margin. Samyha Suffren came up huge for Tech as she made a pair from the stripe, then drew contact on her made basket and knocked down the extra shot from the line to even it up 66-all with six minutes remaining. Wenzel (4:02) converted two more at the stripe for the Hokies for their final lead of the evening, 68-66. The Fighting Irish used free throws down the stretch as Tech fell, 80-70.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech made 10 three-pointers in the contest for its second game this season with double figure makes from long-range
- The Hokies dominated the glass, 45-29
- Forward Carys Baker led all scorers with 21 points, her eighth 20-point performance of the season
- Baker’s five three-pointers are a season-best and she has knocked down a shot from beyond the arc in eight straight contests
- Guard Carleigh Wenzel finished with 19 points including three first quarter triples
- Wenzel also pulled down a season high seven rebounds
- Senior Kilah Freelon corralled an ACC-high 13 rebounds to go with nine points for a near double-double
- Guard Samyha Suffren pulled down a career-high nine rebounds and chipped in eight points
- Redshirt sophomore Mackenzie Nelson dished out a game-best seven assists
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech returns to Cassell Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 8 as they face RV NC State. The game tip-off at 12 p.m. on ACC Network.