Virginia Tech Women's Basketball: 3 takeaways from dominating win over Rutgers

Playing just their second true road game of the season, the No. 16 Virginia Tech women's basketball team had better success the second time than they did on Nov. 30 against LSU in an 82-64 loss to the Tigers.

After a sluggish first quarter, the Hokies turned things around in the second quarter and took control of the game against Rutgers at Jersey Mike's Arena, for a non-conference win that improved them to 8-2 on the season. The Scarlet Knights, who fell to 6-8 on the season, was a scrappy team that gave the Hokies trouble in the first quarter, but once they settled down, they slowly pulled away.

The win was career win No. 500 for head coach Kenny Brooks who has taken the program to new heights over the last couple of seasons. Here are three takeaways from Virginia Tech's road win in New Jersey.

Virginia Tech wins with Elizabeth Kitley in foul trouble

Generally, things start with senior center Elizabeth Kitley in the middle for the Hokies and how she goes is how Virginia Tech goes. Against Rutgers, she was in foul trouble a good part of the game and the Hokies still found a way to get an impressive victory on the road.

Kitley had a tough night by her standards with just 11 points and eight rebounds, but her teammates picked her up, especially Rose Micheaux who played well in the third quarter after Kitley picked up her third foul. Micheaux was a factor on the offense with some key rebounds and five points. Good confidence win for Virginia Tech with Kitley playing in foul trouble on the road.

Matilda Ehk and Georgia Amoore carried the offense without Kitley

With Kitley struggling with foul trouble, Matilda Ekh and Georgia Amoore carried the Virginia Tech offense, especially in the second quarter where the Hokies outscored Rutgers, 25-11, for a 38-24 halftime advantage.

Ehk caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 14 of her 16 first-half points in the frame hitting four 3-pointers, and igniting a 20-1 run in the quarter to pull away. The Michigan State transfer finished with 25 points on 7-for-13 shooting from behind the arc. Her confidence once she gets going can carry the offense at times and she even had five rebounds and six assists against the Scarlet Knights.

Not to be outdone, Virginia Tech senior point guard Georgia Amoore was big hitting five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. Not only her scoring was big, but handling the ball she did a nice job of setting up her teammates and finished with eight assists. Playing at a quick pace, she only had two turnovers and finished with four rebounds.

Olivia Summiel had a strong second half

Senior guard Olivia Summiel was huge off the bench for Virginia Tech and in fact, she was the only bench player to score a point in the game. She recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds and was part of the reason why the Hokies tied their season-high for 3-pointers made with 17 by going 4-for-4 herself.

She was big on boards at both ends, grabbing five offensive rebounds and six on the defensive end. She finished 6-for-7 from the field, hit both of her free throws and hit back-to-back 3's late in the fourth quarter, with the second one coming off an Ekh offensive rebound.

Virginia Tech's 17 made 3's tied a season-high that they hit earlier this month in a non-conference victory at home against Long Island. When they are shooting the ball the way they did against Rutgers, they are a tough team to beat and when that's happening, it's being done without much from Kitley. A very good well-rounded road win for the Hokies.