Hokies Storm Back from 13 Down to Stun Clemson, in Cassell Coliseum Thriller

Hokies Storm Back from 13 Down to Stun Clemson, 71–68, in Cassell Coliseum Thriller

Virginia Tech's Wednesday night game against Clemson was a pivotal ACC matchup. A win would boost the program's prospects for a bid to the NCAA tournament in March. Winners of their previous three games by an average margin of 20 points, the Hokies looked to carry that momentum and confidence against Clemson inside Cassell Coliseum. What unfolded instead was a gritty, physical, back-and-forth battle that tested Virginia Tech’s resilience—and ultimately showcased its refusal to fold.

Behind clutch performances from Carleigh Wenzel and Carys Baker, Virginia Tech erased a 13-point deficit in a relentless fourth-quarter comeback, defeating Clemson 71–68 in one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.

Fast Start, Physical Tone

From the opening tip, the game took on an erratic, rugged identity. Both teams attacked the lane, creating chaos inside and forcing rushed decisions. The result was mayhem: both teams combined for 13 turnovers in the first quarter alone, an indication of defensive intensity and offensive mistakes by both teams. 

Virginia Tech began to assert itself on offense as Wenzel continued her recent resurgence, knocking down her first three shots from beyond the arc and providing an early spark for the Hokies. Tech was also physical defensively, contesting nearly every possession and limiting Clemson’s clean looks.

Despite Wenzel's hot shooting. however, turnovers and missed opportunities in the paint prevented the Hokies from separating from Clemson. The Tigers stayed composed and weathered Tech’s defensive pressure to keep the game within reach after the opening frame.

Clemson Finds Rhythm in the Second Quarter

The second quarter belonged to Clemson. The Tigers found their offensive groove, stringing together multiple scoring runs — including a 10–0 burst — to seize momentum. Their screen and roll execution began to punish Virginia Tech’s defense, and the Hokies struggled to find answers.

Wenzel halted the bleeding with a quick basket, and a Clemson backcourt violation helped Tech regain some footing. Still, the Tigers controlled the pace, forcing Virginia Tech to chase the game for much of the quarter.

One reason the Hokies remained competitive was Carys Baker’s precision at the free-throw line. While she she did not shoot particularly well from the field early on, her ability to convert free throws under pressure kept the deficit manageable.

Going into half-time, Clemson, leaning heavily on its inside game, had control of the game. Despite the deficit, Virginia Tech had reason for optimism — Baker and Wenzel had combined for 22 of the Hokies’ 33 first-half points, providing a steady offensive backbone. Still, the duo needed help.

Tigers Extend their Lead, Hokies Tested

The third quarter opened with back-to-back scoring possessions from both teams. However, Clemson soon began to pull away by asserting itself on the offensive glass and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities.

Midway through the quarter, the Tigers extended their lead to 13 points — their largest of the night — as Virginia Tech struggled with rebounding and finishing. Clemson’s ability to dominate the boards and convert inside appeared to put the game firmly in their grasp.

Yet even as the Hokies faced adversity, the signs of a comeback quietly began to emerge.

Fourth-Quarter Chaos and a Cassell Comeback

Virginia Tech entered the fourth quarter trailing. The Hokies generated quality looks offensively, though fouls and turnovers continued to prove costly as the deficity remined roughly ten deep into the fourth

With Tech down ten with under five minutes remaining, the game transformed into a thriller. The Hokies ramped up their defensive intensity, which began to shift momentum in Tech's favor.  Virginia Tech's defense forced difficult possessions and began chipping away, turning what what was that double-digit deficit into a six-point game with 2:23 left. Despite being outrebounded and outshot overall, the Hokies refusal to fade gave them hope.

Some untimely fouls threatened to derail the comeback, drawing vocal reactions from a passionate Cassell Coliseum crowd. The energy of the home fans inside the building, however, helped fuel Virginia Tech’s push.

Full-court pressure became a major issue for Clemson late, disrupting spacing and forcing the Tigers out of their preferred sets. 

Then came the sequence that ignited the comeback.

With Tech down by six points with 2:12 left, Baker drove from the wing for a layup. She missed the shot but grabbed her own rebound and was fouled. She hit two free throws to draw Tech within four.  The Hokies racheted up the defensive intensity, forcing the timeout by Clemson.  During the ensuring action. Clemson was called for an illegal screen that had freed up a Tiger for a clean 3-pt look. Momentum continued to swing Tech's way.

Down two possessions, Carelgh Wenzel drove baseline, drew the defense, and sent a nice pass to Samyha Suffren on the weakside wing. Suffren buried the three-pointer, slicing the deficit to one and sending Cassell into a frenzy. After a defensive stop by Baker, Virginia Tech regained possession with one minutes left. As the shot clock ticked to six without the Hokies getting into a shot, Coach Duffy called a timeout. On the next play, Suffren drove the left wing only to see her shot blocked out of bounds with 2.2 seconds left on the shot clock and 28 seconds on the game clock. On the inbounds play, the Hokies got off a scrambled shot attempt that missed. However Kilah Freelon flew out of nowhere to grab the biggest offensive rebound of the night, reset the shot clock, and set the stage for a dramatic finish.

After another Tech timeout, Wenzel once again drove to the basket from the wing with 15 seconds remaining, drew two defenders and dropped the ball into Baker in the lane for the go-ahead basket that put Tech up 69-68.  Wenzel then hit two free-throws to extend Tech's lead to three. The Hokies made two defensive stands in the final seconds, forcing Clemson turnovers twice to seal the improbably come-back victory.

The Hokies had closed the game on an 11–0 run as Clemson went scoreless over the final 2:38, flipping the script on a night that once seemed out of reach. While other teammates made key contributions, Wenzel and Baker delivered, each finishing with 24 points, combining for 48 of the Hokies’ 71 points and carrying the offense when it mattered most.

A Statement Win

Virginia Tech’s 71–68 victory was not clean or comfortable—but it was defining. The Hokies overcame rebounding disadvantages, foul problems, turnover struggles, and a 13-point hole through toughness, execution, and belief.

They led for just over nine minutes compared to Clemson’s 27, yet led when it mattered most.

In front of 3,992 fans at Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Tech proved once again that resilience is part of its identity. Against a physical Clemson squad, the Hokies didn’t just survive—they delivered a statement comeback that will resonate throughout ACC play and helped their NCAA chances.

Sometimes, the best wins aren’t about control.

They’re about heart.