For the second time on the road this season, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team was facing a deficit entering the fourth quarter. Last month at Georgia, the Hokies turned up the defensive pressure and got stops that allowed them to rally to pick up a win in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
On Sunday afternoon in South Florida, the Hokies were facing a similar situation when they were down 51-44 to Miami. The lead ballooned to 12 points at 59-47, but from that point, Tech took control of the game. They ended up outscoring the Hurricanes, 24-13, in the final 10 minutes and closed the game on an 11-1 run to steal the game and pick up their first ACC victory of the season in three tries.
Things were not looking great for Megan Duffy and her team, but after the first-year coach took a timeout following a 3-pointer from the Hurricanes' Jasmyne Roberts that made it 59-47. Out of the timeout, Matilda Ekh buried a 3-pointer and then they went to work at the foul line to come within 63-61.
After a stop defensively, Carys Baker (23 points) drilled a 3-pointer to give the Hokies lead at 64-63. One Cameron Williams free throw tied the game, but Carliegh Wenzel (17 points) was fouled going to the basket and hit both free throws for a two-point lead. After a stop defensively, two more Wenzel free throws seal the victory.
This was a more impressive win than the one earlier this season at Georgia. The Hokies looked down and out, but Duffy's timeout and Ekh's trey brought some life and they got timely stops defensively. Mackenzie Nelson was huge down the stretch with her defense and she even knocked down two key free throws in the final two minutes.
Virginia Tech improved to 10-4 overall and 1-2 in the ACC while Miami fell to 11-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. This was a vital win for the Hokies who travel to undefeated Georgia Tech on Thursday night.