Tied 35-35 at halftime with Virginia in the first women's basketball Commonwealth Clash of the 2024-5 season on Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Tech was hoping to extend their three-game winning streak with a strong 20 minutes. Virginia had other ideas.
In a game that they took control of in the third quarter outscoring the Hokies, 27-12, the Cavaliers picked up a big road win in Blacksburg in a game where Latasha Lattimore and Kymora Johnson dominated for the visitors after the first quarter. Virginia (11-7) improved to 3-3 in ACC play while Virginia Tech (12-5) dropped to 3-3.
Lattimore recorded an impressive double-double for Virginia with 24 points and 15 rebounds while Johnson had 16 points. For Virginia Tech, Rose Micheaux had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Matilda Ekh (five rebounds) had 14 points, Lani White has 12 and Carys Baker had 11 points and five boards. In the second half where the Hokies were outscored 38-30, they committed 11 turnovers. Here are some gut reactions from the first loss in two weeks for Megan Duffy's team.
Gut reactions from Virginia's win over Virginia Tech
- Turnovers were a big problem for the Hokies and a lot of them were unforced or of the lazy variety.
- Like the men the night before against NC State, the women's offense went stagnant in the second and third quarters. Virginia Tech just looked all out of sorts.
- Something that will likely go unnoticed was some easy shots the Hokies missed around the basket in the first half and a bad pass on the fastbreak when Micheaux was all by herself and the ball was thrown out of bounds.
- This was the third straight concerning home performance from the Hokies. First Florida State dropped a 100 on them on Jan. 2, then Wake Forest, winless in the ACC, almost pulled off a huge upset last Sunday. You have to protect the home court in conference play.
- Every time the Cavaliers needed a basket, Lattimore or Johnson provided it. Both players were confident in shooting the ball.
- For the second straight game, Carleigh Wenzel battled foul trouble. Things go so much more smoothly offensively for Virginia Tech when she's in the game.
Virginia Tech will now turn its attention to Sunday afternoon at Cassell when they host Louisville on Liz Kitley Night. It should be a special day in Blacksburg.