Virginia Tech delivers an early knockout punch to NC Central in a season-opening rout

Going into their season opener on Monday night at home against North Carolina Central, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team was beginning the 2026-27 season with some questions about how they were going to look with some roster turnover at the end of last season.

Any questions about what Hokies would look like were answered early, and if this is what it's going to be daily, then this team is going to be fun to watch, win or lose this winter. Virginia Tech started fast and never took the foot off the pedal in a season-opening rout of the Eagles at Cassell Coliseum.

Virginia Tech women bury North Carolina Central early in season-opening rout

Going into the game, we knew that Virginia Tech was going to be without Tennessee transfer Lauren Hurst, who suffered a knee injury and will miss the entire season. Another Tennessee transfer, Alyssa Latham, was in street clothes for the game, but it didn't matter against an undersized and undermanned NC Central club.

Virginia Tech used a suffocating defense that turned into easy transition baskets down the other end. The Hokies got some balanced scoring, which is good to see some players gained confidence early in the season. Carleigh Wenzel did her usual scoring, but freshmen Jessica Dimaro and Kaleo Anderson impressed by finishing around the basket.

Wenzel finished with 17 points to lead six players in double figures. Dimaro had 13 points and 13 rebounds, with nine coming on the offensive end, while also recording two blocks. Amani Jenkins also had 13 points and grabbed five rebounds. Leila Wells had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Samyha Suffren had 11 points and six rebounds for the Hokies. Aniya Trent had five assists, two steals, and a block. Virginia Tech's defense forced 29 turnovers.

The Hokies led 32-10 after the first quarter and then 47-14 at halftime. Most of the first-quarter damage was done in transition off turnovers and rebounds. As for the second quarter, Virginia Tech held the Eagles without a field goal in the 10 minutes, with North Carolina Central scoring their four points in teh quarter from the free-throw line. The Hokies' defense was that good.

Virginia Tech received one vote in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, just like fellow ACC rival Clemson. I know, it's the season opener and the competition wasn't great, but the hustle the Hokies had, the way they hit the boards at both ends of the floor, and the ability to get out and get easy baskets in transition were impressive to see. Believe it or not, it's about taking the positives in games early in the season and running with it for Megan Duffy and her staff.

The Hokies will host Delaware on Wednesday night at 6 at Cassell Coliseum before they get a very interesting and tough non-conference game at home on Sunday night at 6 against James Madison. That will be a good test after the Dukes edged the Hokies last season at home.

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