Women's Basketball Recap: Week 1
Nov 4: Virginia Tech 99-57 UNCW
Virginia Tech started their season off on a high as they handily defeated UNC Wilmington 99-57 on November 4. The Hokies got off to an early 34-11 start in the first quarter and never looked back from there.
In her Tech head coaching debut, Megan Duffy did her best to get everybody on the court, test out different lineups, and overall give players their first big minute games in college.
We knew coming into the season that Duffy had preached a scoring-by-committee approach to this team and her players, and that is exactly what they did to overpower the Seahawks.
Five players finished in double figures for Virginia Tech as veteran Matilda Ekh led the charge with 18 points, followed by the returners Carys Baker, Rose Micheaux, and Carleigh Wenzel, all finishing with 14 points.
Freshman Kayl Peterson also had a brilliant debut, securing 12 points and three boards in 19 minutes played.
Overall, it was a great first game for the new-look roster for the Hokies. They exhibited the ability to play fast, get into the passing lanes, and share the ball effectively.
Nov 10: Virginia Tech 52-71 Iowa
For a recap of the Hokies' performance in Charlotte, check out my article for 3304 Sports, the multi-media platform for Sports Media at Virginia Tech
Nov 13: Virginia Tech 85-62 UNC Asheville
Pushing past the rough, although promising, game in Charlotte, the Hokies took on UNC Asheville Wednesday night inside Cassell Coliseum. What came out of that game was what Virginia Tech showed in their first game of the year: the ability to get up the floor, play hard, and share the ball.
Carleigh Wenzel shined in the contest, boasting a statline of 25 points, her career high, adding eight rebounds and three steals as well. She really showed the ability to get downhill on defenders and drive to the hoop, something she said she could have done better against Iowa in the Ally Tip-Off.
Another standout was Samyha Suffren, who showed the speed fans have been waiting to see. She ended the game on 12 points, her career high, shooting 5-of-7 from the field.
The returners Matilda Ekh and Rose Micheaux provided solid and efficient offense, dropping 13 and 11 points, respectively. The freshman, Kayl Peterson, also contributed once again, providing 10 points and five rebounds.
Looking Ahead:
In the coming week, the Hokies welcome Coppin St. and Rutgers into town as Virginia Tech looks to continue to blossom early in the season and get some wins under their belt.