Virginia Tech Rolls Past Niagara for Fifth Straight Win, 83–46

Blacksburg, Va. — Virginia Tech continued its dominant start to the 2025–26 season on Thursday night, overpowering Niagara 83–46 at Cassell Coliseum behind a balanced offensive attack, elite defensive pressure, and meaningful contributions from every corner of the roster.

The Hokies (5–0) controlled the game from the opening tip, using crisp ball movement, efficient shooting, and impressive depth to overwhelm the Purple Eagles. Five players scored in double figures, and six finished with at least nine points — a testament to how many weapons Tech can deploy at any given moment. 11 players scored tonight, including the first career points for Aniya Trent. In the first half alone, the Hokies were nearly untouchable offensively, shooting 80% inside the arc, 70% from three, and 83% at the free-throw line. Every possession looked deliberate, every pass purposeful, and every rotation sharp. Defensively the team caused 13 steals on the night. 

Head coach Megan Duffy praised her team’s energy, connectivity, and commitment to playing the right way.

“I was proud of our team. I thought it was a good balance,” Duffy said. “Our team played unselfish and shared the ball, which is always a positive thing. We’ve handled a lot of distinctive styles and a lot of pressure these first five games, and now the fun begins as we head on the road.”

For a group still settling into new roles, the cohesion is striking. Virginia Tech played with the confidence and clarity of a team well beyond the fifth game of a season — defending with intensity, attacking with purpose, and showing no signs of slowing down as they turn their focus to their first true road test.

Daley Leads the Way

Graduate transfer Mel Daley quickly emerged as the heartbeat of this team, a guiding presence whose impact goes far beyond the box score. Her scoring versatility — from mid-range floaters to smooth pull-up jumpers to a timely three-pointer — has become a reliable offensive anchor. But Thursday was yet another reminder that her value lies just as much in how she carries the group as in how she scores.

Daley once again stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, but it was her steadiness that stood out. On a night when the game demanded poise, she provided it. She directed traffic on the floor, calmed the team in tense stretches, and consistently put teammates in the right spots. Defensively, she set the tone with her communication and physicality, often taking the toughest assignment and challenging others to match her intensity. Emotionally, she was the engine — celebrating big plays, rallying the group after mistakes, and modeling the composure the Hokies needed.

Her teammates continue to praise her consistency and growth.

“A lot of it is her work ethic — every day it grows,” Kilah Freelon said. “She’s always listening, always asking questions, always boosting our confidence.”

Suffren’s Spark Off the Bench

Samyha Suffren once again delivered the kind of high-impact performance that has made her one of the Hokies’ most valuable reserves. Coming off the bench, she injected immediate energy into the game, finishing with 13 points and three steals — but those numbers only hint at how disruptive she truly was.

Suffren’s defensive instincts continue to flip momentum. She jumped passing lanes, applied relentless ball pressure, and turned routine possessions into chaos for the opponent. Her physicality at the point of attack set a new defensive tone the moment she checked in, often forcing hurried decisions or outright turnovers. Offensively, she attacked with confidence, using her strength and burst to get downhill and finish through contact, while also keeping the ball moving in key stretches.

What makes Suffren’s role so impactful is her ability to shift the game’s energy. When the Hokies needed a spark, she provided it — not just with scoring and steals, but with effort plays, emotional lift, and a competitive edge that radiated through the lineup. Her presence off the bench continues to be one of Virginia Tech’s most reliable game-changers.

“Samyha has been incredible since coming back from injury,” Duffy said. “Her ball pressure, her energy, her ability to make plays — she gives us such a lift.”

Freelon Dominates the Paint

Forward Kilah Freelon once again proved why she’s becoming one of the ACC’s most dependable interior forces. With 12 points and six rebounds, she imposed her will around the rim from the opening tip, controlling the paint on both ends. 

Freelon carved out deep post position possession after possession, sealing defenders and finishing through contact with a calm, veteran touch. Her footwork continues to stand out — decisive, balanced, and efficient — allowing her to score in a variety of ways, whether it’s a power move, a turnaround, or a quick second-chance putback. She consistently forced Niagara to collapse defensively, opening up space for Virginia Tech’s guards and stretching their rotations thin.

On the glass, Freelon was relentless. She attacked rebounds with two hands, boxed out with authority, and erased several Niagara possessions by limiting them to one shot. Defensively, she anchored the interior, altering shots, absorbing physicality, and making it clear that points in the paint would not come easily.

What made her showing even more impressive was her presence. Freelon didn’t just produce — she controlled the game’s tempo inside, brought stability during momentum swings, and set a tone of toughness that her teammates followed. With each outing, she further solidifies herself as one of the league’s most reliable and imposing post players.

Her ability to generate second-chance opportunities kept Tech in command throughout the night.

Nelson: The Engine of the Offense

Point guard Mackenzie Nelson once again proved why she’s the engine that keeps Virginia Tech’s offense humming. Running the floor with purpose and poise, Nelson orchestrated every possession with a veteran’s command, finishing with 10 points and seven assists — her fourth game this season with seven or more dimes. Her fingerprints were on everything the Hokies did offensively.

Whether she was slicing through full-court pressure, breaking down defenders off the dribble, or delivering perfectly timed passes into tight windows, Nelson dictated the game’s tempo. She pushed the pace when opportunities opened in transition, but just as importantly, she slowed things down and organized the offense during heavier defensive pressure. Her ability to read the floor — anticipating help rotations, spotting backdoor cuts, and setting up shooters in rhythm — kept Tech’s spacing crisp and its ball movement fluid.

Nelson also picked her scoring spots with intelligence. She attacked gaps when defenses overplayed the perimeter, finished through contact at the rim, and knocked down mid-range shots to keep defenders honest. Her dual threat as both scorer and facilitator forced Niagara to respect every level of the court.

But beyond the stats, Nelson’s leadership in the backcourt continues to elevate the Hokies. She communicates constantly, gets teammates into their sets, and brings a calming presence when games get chaotic. In Tech’s fast-paced, read-and-react system, she isn’t just the point guard — she’s the conductor, the pulse, and the organizer who makes the entire offense operate at its best.

“Sometimes we even get in trouble for over-sharing,” Nelson joked postgame. “But we’re all unselfish, and that’s what makes us fun to watch.”

Baker Stays Red-Hot

Junior sharpshooter Carys Baker continued her scorching start to the season, pouring in 10 points while once again proving how essential she is to Tech’s two-way identity. It marked her fourth straight game scoring in double figures — a testament to her consistency and growing confidence as one of the Hokies’ most dangerous perimeter threats.

Offensively, Baker’s presence alone forces defensive adjustments. She stretched the floor with her shooting gravity, opening driving lanes for guards and pulling Niagara's defense out of its comfort zone. Whether she was spotting up in the corners, relocating off ball screens, or knocking down rhythm jumpers, Baker gave Tech the spacing and scoring punch needed to keep the offense balanced and unpredictable.

But her impact wasn’t limited to the offensive end. Baker was equally disruptive defensively, anticipating passes, jumping lanes, and using her length to create deflections that stalled Niagara’s ball movement. Her improved court awareness has made her a reliable wing defender, someone who can generate transition opportunities simply through active hands and sharp instincts.

What continues to make Baker’s play stand out is her steadiness. She doesn’t force shots, she competes every possession, and she delivers exactly what the team needs — efficient scoring, spacing, and smart, disciplined defense. With her confidence building each game, Baker has firmly established herself as one of Tech’s most vital contributors.

A Complete Performance

Virginia Tech delivered one of its most balanced efforts of the young season, showcasing the defensive toughness and unselfish offense that have quickly become defining traits of this group. The Hokies smothered Niagara from start to finish, holding the Purple Eagles under 50 points — their third dominant defensive showing already this year. Through four games, Tech is now outscoring opponents by an average of 31.5 points per game, a number that reflects not only talent, but discipline and connectedness on both ends of the court.

The offensive execution was just as impressive. Ball movement flowed freely as the Hokies recorded 20 assists on 33 made field goals, generating high-quality looks possession after possession. The unselfishness is no accident.

“That’s how we practice,” Mel Daley said. “It’s never about one-on-one. We want to share the ball, find the best shot, and make the extra pass.”

That mentality was evident throughout the night, with every player buying into the system’s pace, spacing, and read-and-react movement.

After a sluggish start to the third quarter, head coach Megan Duffy wasted little time steadying her team. Her quick timeout reset the Hokies’ focus and ignited a 10–0 run, restoring control and reestablishing the intensity that defined the rest of the game. Tech responded exactly the way a disciplined team should — with poise, precision, and a renewed defensive edge.

From top to bottom, it was the kind of complete, wire-to-wire performance that signals a team growing sharper and more cohesive with each outing.

Looking Ahead

The Hokies now hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Harrisonburg for a Sunday showdown against James Madison — a matchup that offers a significant early-season barometer. The Dukes, known for their physicality and defensive pressure, present a very different style from what Tech has seen so far. It will be a test not only of composure but of how well the Hokies can execute offensively without the energy and comfort of Cassell Coliseum behind them.

After that, Virginia Tech heads south for the Tropical Tournament, a multi-game stretch that will challenge the team’s depth, conditioning, and ability to maintain focus through quick turnarounds. The field features a variety of play styles, meaning Tech’s versatility and adaptability — strengths they’ve leaned on heavily through the first five games — will be pushed to new levels. The tournament also marks the first true opportunity for younger players and reserves to prove they can deliver in high-leverage moments far from home.

“We’re excited for it,” Duffy said. “We’ve played distinctive styles, different pressures, and gotten a lot of people meaningful minutes. Now we get to see what we look like on the road. That’s where teams grow.”

With confidence building, rotations tightening, and the offense beginning to click in all phases, Virginia Tech leaves Cassell Coliseum with momentum — and a clearer identity emerging with each performance. Through five games, the Hokies have shown they can score in waves, defend with discipline, and lean on a roster full of reliable contributors. Now comes the next step: proving that formula travels.

Final: Virginia Tech 83, Niagara 46.