Virginia Tech women's basketball routs Virginia without key starter

Coming off their first Quad 4 loss of the season on Thursday night at home to Syracuse, the Virginia Tech women's basketball team was looking to pick up a key road win on Sunday afternoon at Virginia and get a season-split with their in-state rivals.

To compound matters, the Hokies were going to have to do it without center Rose Micheaux who was missing her second straight game with an injury. She was listed as day-to-day by head coach Megan Duffy but was not on the bench against the Orange. She was on the bench at Virginia and she must have liked what she saw.

Virginia Tech was dominant at both ends of the floor, shooting 59% from the field, knocking down 12 of their 19 3-point attempts, and had four players in double figures in an impressive blowout of the Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena. The Hokies trailed just one in the game, 7-6 in the first quarter before moving the ball on offense, getting the shot they wanted, and knocking them down.

Tech led by six points after the first quarter, 16 at halftime, 18 after three before winning by 25 points. It seemed like everything that did worked and true freshman Kayl Petersen played in place of Micheaux. She finished with nine points and four rebounds, not looking out of place against much taller Cavaliers players.

Carys Baker and Matilda Ekh each finished with 17 points and Baker had nine rebounds, while Ekh had five boards and three assists. Carleigh Wenzel had 16 points and nine assists and Lani White came alive in the second half to finish with 15 points and four rebounds. Mackenzie Nelson finished with eight points and six assists. A true team effort.

Virginia Tech had 26 assists on 31 made field goals and that helped them overcome 16 turnovers. Virginia Tech now turns their attention to a Thursday night matchup at North Carolina and looking to pick up a résumé win for the NCAA Tournament. Virginia Tech sits at 16-8 overall and 7-6 in the ACC.