After beginning the season 5-0, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team hit some bumps over the final week of the month. Megan Duffy's team played their first five games at Cassell Coliseum, but they dropped two out of their next three games on the road.
It began last Sunday when they lost, 65-56, in a non-conference game at James Madison, where the Dukes took control of the game in the second half. After that, a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands saw them earn a split in the Paradise Jam Island Division.
Virginia Tech fell, 64-60, to BYU on Thanksgiving night to fall into the consolation game against Oregon State. Against the Beavers, the Hokies played their best game away from Blacksburg to date in an 78-67 victory. Northwestern transfer Mel Daley was on fire, scoring 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting. She was big against the Beavers' zone defense. Carys Baker had 20 points and seven rebounds, but she knocked down three key 3-pointers. Carleigh Wenzel finished with 13 points and six assists.
Difficult December begins at home
Virginia Tech returns home at 6-2 after beating Oregon State and will begin a difficult December schedule that includes the ACC/SEC Challenge and a pair of difficult ACC games.
For the first time in the ACC/SEC Challenge, the women will be at home. On Thursday night, they will host Florida at 5 p.m. That is a huge early-season test for Duffy's team before conference play begins. On Sunday (Dec. 7), the Hokies will host Duke for their ACC opener. After a couple of non-conference games, they will hit the road on Dec. 18 for a trip to Florida State for their second ACC game. They will host Radford in their last game before Christmas. They will return to the court on New Year's Day when they host Miami.