Winners of seven straight, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team will face its toughest test since the streak began on Thursday night when it visits Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. When the ball is tipped, Virginia Tech will be in a three-way tie for third place in the ACC at 8-3 with Syracuse and North Carolina State. The Hokies already own a win over the Orange this season and will host the WOlfpack in Blacksburg Sunday afternoon.
As for Notre Dame, they have the conference's best player in Hannah Hidago, but they are just 6-5 in conference playafter splitting their California trip last week. As far as the NCAA Tournament goes, this is a vital game for Megan Duffy and her team. They are squarely on the bubble while the Irish are safely in as an eight-seed in most projections.
How to watch Virginia Tech at Notre Dame women's basketball
This is going to be a very difficult game for the Hokies, regardless of records. Notre Dame is 11-2 at home this season and is coming off a 78-66 win on Sunday at Stanford after Hildago dropped 37 points on the Cardinal. Virginia Tech is coming in off a 12-point win at home over Virginia, in which Carleigh Wenzel led the way.
The key to victory for Virginia Tech is simple: somehow contain Hidago. Easier said than done. She is averaging 25.3 points a game, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. She literally does it all for the Irish. As far as the Hokies go, Carys Baker is averaging 14.5 points and 8.9 rebounds a game. Virginia Tech will also need a big game from Wenzel and transfer Kilah Freelon.
As mentioned, the schedule gets very daunting for Virginia Tech the rest of the month, but there are chances there for huge résumé-building wins in terms of impressing the NCAA Tournament selection committee leading into March. It begins at Notre Dame.