The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team kicked off their season Monday night in the friendly confines of the Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies destroyed UNC Wilmington 99-57, earning first-year coach Megan Duffy her first win as a Hokie. It was a blueprint for what Virginia Tech will need to do in 2024-25, spread the ball around and have balance scoring, something the Seahawks had trouble defending all night long at Cassell.
Matilda Ekh led the way for the Hokies with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The Hokies also had three players with 14 points including Rose Micheaux, Carleigh Wenzel, and Carys Baker. The Hokies impressed with an uptempo style and aggressive defense. The competition ramps up quickly for the Hokies as they travel to Charlotte on Sunday to face the Caitlin Clark-less Iowa Hawkeyes in the Ally Tip-off.
When Kenny Brooks left the program to join the Kentucky Wildcats, there was a bit of uneasiness in the fan base. Athletic director, Whit Babcock made a great hire with Megan Duffy. Duffy’s resume reads like a perfect match for a Virginia Tech women’s program that has high expectations. The Hokies are seemingly in a good position to make a run at an A.C.C. Championship.
Duffy was previously the head coach at Marquette University. There she boasted an overall winning percentage of .705. If the Hokies can maintain the shooting and pressure defense, it should be an entertaining battle this Sunday versus Iowa. At the time of publish, the Hawkeyes have yet to play an actual game. They face off against Northern Illinois University on Wednesday night. It will be interesting to see how the Hawkeyes rebuild after losing a generational talent like Caitlin Clark. I would expect nothing but the best from a team fresh off a 2023 Final Four appearance.