Virginia Tech women's basketball kicks off ACC play against Pittsburgh at home

After going 9-2 in non-conference play, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team opens up defense of their ACC championship last March on Sunday afternoon at home at Cassell Coliseum against Pittsburgh.

It was a very productive non-conference run in 11 games for the Hokies, who won head coach Kenny Brooks's 500th career game in a non-conference road game against Rutgers earlier this month. They had losses against Iowa in Charlotte and at LSU in November.

How to watch Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh

The game will be broadcast on ACC Network and will also be available on FuboTV.

Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh preview

This will be the Hokies first game in 10 days after they beat William & Mary, 76-43, at home on Dec. 21. Pittsburgh is coming off of a 56-39 home win over Le Moyne on Thursday night, their sixth of the season in 13 tries.

The game plan is simple for Virginia Tech, establish Elizabeth Kitley early and often against the Panthers. The Hokies should be able to spread out the Pittsburgh defense and allow Kitley to go to work on the inside and if Pitt helps off of the shooters, that should leave Georgia Amoore, Cayla King and Matilda Ekh open and ready to shoot. This is another opportunity for Brooks to work in his young bench, who has been playing really well recently.

Carys Baker, Carleigh Wenzel, and Clara Strack have been getting key minutes and making contributions. Getting out to an early lead should be the goal and leave no doubt in Pittsburgh's mind and begin the ACC play on a good note.

As usual, the conference schedule is going to be a battle night in and night out for Virginia Tech, which makes home games and games in general like the Panthers games that they need to win.