Looking to pick up a power conference win early in the 2024-25 season, things looked bleak at times for the Virginia Tech women's basketball team against Rutgers Tuesday night at Cassell Coliseum. After losing their first test on Nov. 10 against Iowa in Charlotte, the Hokies got another crack against the Big Ten school against the Scarlet Knights.
Virginia Tech fought through a tough night shooting the ball through three quarters and then all of a sudden, they turned up the defensive pressure and shot the ball much better to beat Rutgers in a runaway over the final 10 minutes to improve to 4-1 on the season. Here are three takeaways from the Hokies win.
1. Carleigh Wenzel catches fire
It was a rough start for guard Carleigh Wenzel. She was 0-for-11 from the field in the first half but caught fire in the second half and had a huge hand in the victory. She knocked down three 3-pointers and hit eight of 10 free throws to finish with a team-high 19 points and five steals. Her 3-pointers turned the tide in the Hokies favor.
2. Samyha Suffren has strong second half
What a spark plug Samyha Suffren is. Her speed and defense changed the game. She finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals, including a game-changing steal early in the fourth quarter. She was able to get to the basket and finish and she made a couple of nice ball fakes and made an extra pass for a Wenzel and Matilda Ekh 3-pointers. Her energy and speed can be a game-changer.
3. Rose Micheaux records another double-double
Through the first five games of the season, Rose Micheaux has been a big presence on both ends of the floor for Megan Duffy and that was the case against the Scarlet Knights. She had 16 points and 17 rebounds for another double-double. She did a good job defending Destiny Adams enough to allow her teammates to pull away in the fourth quarter. Like Wenzel, she missed a lot of shots early but stuck with it and was rewarded.
Virginia Tech gets a couple of days off before hosting Elon on Saturday before heading down Evelance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off on No. 29 against Davidson and then playing either Belmont or Michigan the following day.