Hokies Open 2026-27 Season in Dominant Fashion, Defeat North Carolina Central 85-39

BLACKSBURG, Va. The Virginia Tech women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season in impressive fashion Monday night, putting together a dominant performance against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Cassell Coliseum. In front of 4,757 fans, the Hokies used a strong opening quarter, balanced scoring and relentless defensive pressure to cruise to an 85-39 victory.

Virginia Tech set the tone early, overcoming a slow start before taking control of the game. The Eagles scored the first basket of the night, but freshman center Jessica Dimaro quickly answered with a layup to get the Hokies on the board. Dimaro followed with another basket to give Virginia Tech its first lead of the game, showing early confidence in the paint.

Leila Wells added to the momentum with a three-pointer, giving the Hokies a 7-4 advantage. From there, Virginia Tech began to find its rhythm on both ends of the floor. The Hokies created opportunities through defensive stops, rebounds and transition offense, forcing North Carolina Central to work for every possession.

Samyha Suffren provided another spark from beyond the arc, while Virginia Tech continued to attack the basket and take advantage of opportunities in the open floor. The Hokies closed the first quarter with a commanding 32-10 lead, scoring 32 points in the opening 10 minutes and holding the Eagles to just 10.

The defensive effort was just as important as the offensive production. Virginia Tech disrupted North Carolina Central's rhythm created turnovers and limited the Eagles' ability to establish consistent offense. The Hokies' pressure helped turn defensive possessions into scoring opportunities, allowing them to build an early cushion.

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Turning defense into offense! 💪 📺 » ACCNX h

Virginia Tech carried that momentum into the second quarter. The Hokies continued to control the pace, adding 15 points while allowing only four from North Carolina Central. Dimaro remained active around the basket, contributing on the glass and giving the Hokies another reliable option inside. Suffren also continued to make an impact, scoring in transition and adding a jumper to keep the offense moving.

The Hokies received contributions from throughout the lineup, with players stepping in to keep the energy and defensive intensity high. Amani Jenkins added important production, while Virginia Tech's ball movement helped create opportunities for teammates. By halftime, the Hokies had built a 47-14 advantage, holding North Carolina Central to just four points in the second quarter.

Coming out of the break, Virginia Tech showed no signs of slowing down. The Hokies opened the third quarter by continuing to attack offensively, with Wells knocking down another three-pointer. Dimaro followed with a basket inside, and Suffren added a fast-break layup as Virginia Tech continued to capitalize on turnovers.

The Hokies' ability to turn defense into offense became one of the biggest differences in the game. Virginia Tech consistently pressured the Eagles, collected defensive rebounds and pushed the ball up the floor. That approach helped the Hokies create easy scoring chances rather than relying exclusively on half-court possessions.

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Steal ➡️ score 📺 » ACCNX

Carleigh Wenzel also began to make her presence felt offensively. Wenzel finished strong around the basket, scoring on consecutive possessions as Virginia Tech continued to extend its lead. Wells added another basket, while the Hokies continued to get contributions from multiple players.

Dimaro's performance inside was a major highlight. The freshman center finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, recording a double-double in her collegiate debut. Her work on the boards gave Virginia Tech additional possessions, while her scoring helped the Hokies maintain their advantage in the paint. She also contributed defensively with two blocked shots.

Virginia Tech outscored North Carolina Central 25-14 in the third quarter, taking a 72-28 lead into the final period. With the game firmly in control, the Hokies continued to work through their offense and maintain their defensive effort.

The fourth quarter provided an opportunity for Virginia Tech to close out its season opener with contributions from across the roster. The Hokies added 13 points in the final 10 minutes, while North Carolina Central scored 11. Virginia Tech continued to move the ball, compete for rebounds and make defensive plays until the final buzzer sounded.

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Carleigh Wenzel led all Hokie scorers with 17 points, providing an important offensive presence throughout the contest. Jessica Dimaro followed with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Leila Wells contributed 12 points. Amani Jenkins, Samyha Suffren, and Kaleo Anderson also reached double figures, giving Virginia Tech 6 players with at least 11 points.

The balanced scoring reflected the Hokies' overall offensive performance. Virginia Tech finished the night shooting 43.6 percent from the field, connecting on 34 of its 78 attempts. The Hokies also collected 50 rebounds and recorded 21 assists, demonstrating their ability to share the basketball and create opportunities for one another.

Defensively, Virginia Tech made life difficult for the Eagles throughout the night. The Hokies recorded 12 steals and 10 blocks, while forcing North Carolina Central into 29 turnovers. Virginia Tech turned those mistakes into 28 points off turnovers and added 30 fast-break points. 

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Feels good to be back HOME! 🏰

North Carolina Central was unable to overcome Virginia Tech's defensive pressure and offensive consistency. After scoring 10 points in the opening quarter, the Eagles managed just four in the second before adding 14 in the third and 11 in the fourth.

The final score of 85-39 gave Virginia Tech a 46-point victory to begin the season. More importantly, the performance offered an early look at the team's potential, with contributions coming from veteran players and newcomers alike.

For the Hokies, the season opener was highlighted by strong defensive pressure, unselfish offense and a standout collegiate debut from Dimaro. With five players reaching double figures and the team producing 50 rebounds, 21 assists and 12 steals, Virginia Tech demonstrated the kind of balanced effort it will look to carry forward throughout the season.

Virginia Tech now turns its attention to the remainder of its early-season schedule after starting the year with a convincing win at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies have a quick turnaround as they face the Delaware Blue Hens in Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday November 4th at 6pm.