Nothing is easy in conference play whether it's on the road or at home in college basketball. After rallying for a pair of road wins last week at Miami and 13th-ranked Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech returned to Cassell Coliseum to host Wake Forest, a team that was 0-4 in conference play.
What looked like should have been an easy win was far from it. The Demon Deacons locked down defensively on the Hokies and Tech dealt with foul trouble all afternoon long with point guard Carleigh Wenzel. In the end, Virginia Tech was able to get stops down the end and converted offensively to sneak out a seven-point win. Here are three takeaways after Virginia Tech improved to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the ACC.
Virginia Tech takeaways from win over Wake Forest
1. Carleigh Wenzel saves best for last
Spending most of the game on the bench in foul trouble, Wenzel stepped up down the stretch to make sure the Hokies wouldn't pick up a bad loss. She hit four free throws, had a nice dime to Carys Baker and hit an elbow jumper. Baker's basket gave Tech the lead for good. Wenzel finished with nine points and five assists in 17 minutes. Not one of her better games, but she was very impactful down the stretch.
2. Virginia Tech needs more from their bench
Losing Samyha Suffren is a big loss off the bench, but the Hokies are going to need more than four points a game from the bench at some point this season. Mackenzie Nelson and Lelia Wells each had two points off the bench when Wenzel and Lani White were in foul trouble. Nelson played 25 minutes and Wells 11 and they both got their points at the foul line. It's important that Kayl Petersen contribute off the bench.
3. Turnover were a problem again
Aside from their defense in the half court, the Hokies didn't do themselves any favors all afternoon long with 19 turnovers. If they have 19 turnovers against just about any other team in the ACC, they lose. Some of the turnovers were unforced and Wake went after Nelson when Wenzel was out and trapped at certain times. They have to handle the ball better going forward.
Virginia Tech, which got 20 points and nine rebounds from Rose Micheaux, will host Virginia in a Commonwealth battle on Thursday night at 6 o'clock and then host Louisville on Jan. 19 on Liz Kitley Night.