One night after the Virginia Tech men's basketball team opened the 2025-26 season at Cassell Coliseum with a rout of Charleston Southern, the Hokies women did the same against Towson.
After a limited roster in her first season in Blacksburg, Duffy and her staff assembled a better roster this season with a ton a depth between retention from players from last year's roster, Transfer Portal additions, and incoming freshmen. Everyone who played in the season-opening win over the Tigers contributed to Duffy.
Virginia Tech women's basketball rolls over Towson in season-opener
Leading 41-30 at halftime, the Hokies locked down on defense in the second half and exploded for 59 second half points. Of the 41 first half points score by Virginia Tech, 21 were by returnign players and 20 by the newcomers between the transfers and freshmen.
When the dust settled, it was Kayl Petersen off the bench who was one of two Hokies with a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Texas Tech transfer Kilah Freelon had 15 points and 11 rebounds in her Tech debut, and Carliegh Wenzel had 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Northwestern transfer Mel Daley had 11 points. Samyha Suffren had 12 points and four rebounds.
This was a very good opening game for Virginia Tech. With so many new transfers and freshmen, they are going to need the month of November to work things out before ACC play begins. It was good to see the Hokies getting out and running off rebounds and turnovers. They were locked in defensively in the third and fourth quarters, not allowing the Tigers open looks and contested each shot.
Virginia Tech returns to the court on Sunday afternoon against Loyola Maryland at Cassell Coliseum before Gardner Webb comes in next week. Baning early-season wins are key for the Hokies.