3 key takeaways from Virginia Tech women's basketball win over Syracuse

It has been a long seven days and a brutal start to the New Year for Megan Duffy and the Virginia Tech women's basketball team. They blew a lead at home last Thursday and suffered a loss in overtime to Miami. On Sunday, they went to Louisville and were routed by the Cardinals to leave them at a disappointing 1-3 in ACC play. Not the way the Hokies were hoping to begin the conference slate.

Things were not going to get any easier when Virginia Tech played at Syracuse on Thursday night, as the Orange was 13-2 entering the game overall and 3-1 in ACC play. It was going to be interesting to see what the response was going to be by the Hokies at the JMA Wireless Dome. The response was the best it could have been in a 24-point rout of the Orange to pick up their second ACC win and improve to 12-5. Here are three takeaways from the Hokies' impressive road win.

3 takeaways from Virginia Tech women's basketball team's win over Syracuse

40 minutes of relentless defense

After allowing 85 points at Louisville, it was going to be interesting to see the Hokies' response on the defensive end. It was relentless for 40 minutes, and they made the Orange work for every single point they scored. Even when Syracuse made a run in the second half for a bit, the Hokies had the answer with their suffocating defense and timely baskets at the other end.

It was a very impressive performance for Duffy's defense. They held Syracuse's Sophie Burrows to seven points after she dropped 28 on them last year in a 93-87 loss in Blacksburg.

Balanced scoring leads to 75 points

Balance is the name of the game for the Hokies when things are going well, and that was the case against Syracuse. They placed five players in double figures. They did a nice job of spreading the ball around and shot 45% from the field. They were 6-for-9 on 3-pointers, which included a perfect 4-for-4 for Carleigh Wenzel.

Wenzel scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, and dished out five assists. Samyha Suffren had 16 points off the bench, while Carys Baker (six rebounds, three assists) and Mackenzie Nelson each had 13, and Nelson also had five assists. Kilah Freelon had 12 points and six rebounds. When Virginia Tech is spreading the ball around, it is a tough team to defend.

A much needed win for Virginia Tech

This was a game that the Hokies needed to win. There is no doubt about it. Falling to 1-4 in ACC play would have been difficult to overcome. Now at 2-3, they host Boston College on Sunday at Cassell Coliseum before a trip to SMU next Thursday night. After a trip to Dallas to play the Mustangs, the Hokies get a bye and a week off before hosting Clemson on Jan. 22.