Virginia Tech women's basketball drops early-season test against Iowa

For the second time in two seasons, the Virginia Tech and Iowa women's basketball teams met in the Ally Tip-Off on Sunday night in Charlotte. This season's match-up did not have the signature names from both teams as last season did and there were two new coaches leading each program.

Of course, both teams want to win the game, but truth be told, first-year head coach Megan Duffy of Virginia Tech and Jan Jensen of Iowa both learned a lot from this game in an early-season test for both. The Hawkeyes returned more experience and it showed as the game went along as they picked a key non-conference win early in the year. As far as the Hokies go, it was a good learning experience on a national stage and will only benefit them down the line.

Virginia Tech spent the entire game chasing the Hawkeyes from behind. An 8-0 first quarter run in a short span of 1:50 gave Iowa a 24-13 lead as the Hokies ran into turnover troubles and missed a ton of shots from the field. After building the lead to 30-18 in the second quarter, Iowa struggled to close the half and the Hokies used a 12-4 run to close within 34-30 at the break.

The Hokies began the second half with a quick 6-2 run to cut the deficit to 38-36 and had a chance to take the lead as Carys Baker got a wide-open look at a 3-pointer, but it rimmed out and Iowa took control of the game with 18-4 run to close the quarter for a commanding 56-40 lead. Tech turned up the defense in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.

Iowa's Big Three was too much for Virginia Tech's post players as Hannah Stuelke (16 points), Addison O'Grady (18 points), and Lucy Olsen (20 points) combined for 54 points. As far as the Hokies go, it was a tough shooting night, but they got a team-high 14 points from Carleigh Wenzel and 12 points and seven rebounds from Rose Micheaux, and Baker added eight points. Samyha Suffren had six points and used her speed to get to the basket. Tech finished with 18 turnovers.

Virginia Tech returns to Cassell Coliseum Wednesday night to host UNC Asheville at 6 p.m.