CHARLOTTESVILLE — Virginia Tech throttled Virginia in an 87-62 win on Sunday in Vol. II of the 2024-25 Commonwealth Clash and got revenge for the eight-point loss in Blacksburg 24 days ago.
“Just really proud of our effort,” Hokies head coach Megan Duffy said after the victory. “The second time playing UVa, just improving, most importantly from our previous game. We were really, really disappointed after the Syracuse game of what our defense looked like, and just a lot of mental mistakes out there, and I thought the way our team came out with a mentality and a fight to improve our defense was the difference in the game.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of these women … of sticking to the process, taking the film session from a couple days ago and really using it as motivation and confidence to improve in the next game.”
In the first meeting, the Hokies (16-8, 7-6 ACC) were disconnected, particularly on the defensive end. After that game, Matilda Ekh said they needed to be “tougher” — and they were this time around against the Cavaliers (12-13, 4-9), especially coming off Thursday’s loss to Syracuse. They were energized and active at UVa and their defense set the tone. In the first half, they forced 13 turnovers.
“There were a lot of toughness plays in that first matchup,” Duffy said, “and I think on our home floor, we had the ball ripped out of our hands. That’s how Virginia wreaks a little bit of their havoc. They can hedge you, they can get real handsy and get tips and deflections, and in the first matchup, that led to points off of our turnovers, so just facing it.”
While it took a few minutes for Tech’s offense to find a groove, its defense accomplished what it couldn’t on Jan. 16: take UVa forward Latasha Lattimore out of the game. It was also much improved after allowing the Orange to make a 60 percent clip in Cassell Coliseum four days ago.
After dropping 24 points and 15 rebounds the first time around, Lattimore was almost a non-factor, finishing with just eight points (3-of-7), five rebounds and five turnovers.
Meanwhile, Cavaliers point guard Kymora Johnson picked up two fouls in the first 3:12, which forced her to sit for nearly 10 minutes. Tech kept Lattimore in check while taking advantage of Johnson not being on the floor.
“We didn’t start on Virginia until we put [Syracuse] to rest and really dug into that film,” Duffy said, “whether it was guarding the 3-point line, just awareness to communicate and be in the right spots. … I thought our team handled that tremendously. ...
“And then obviously, you go back to the first time you played UVa and Lattimore had an incredible game against us. We tried to just throw a couple different bodies around her. The fact that [Johnson] got in foul trouble, obviously, any player like that that gets to go to the bench is an advantage for the opponent because she’s so good. I thought that was really important for us, that break in the game.”
The Hokies’ offense clicked gradually. A 3-pointer from Carys Baker at the six-minute mark in the first quarter took the lead and they didn’t look back. Though UVa’s Paris Clark closed out the period with a layup at the buzzer, an 8-0 run in the first two minutes of the second quarter — capped off by a three from freshman Kayl Petersen, who started in place of the injured Rose Micheaux — put Tech up double digits for the first time.
The Cavaliers subbed Johnson back in and had a quick spurt, courtesy of back-to-back triples from Casey Valenti-Paea and Johnson, but Baker started to cook. She nailed three 3-pointers over five possessions, which forced Virginia to call timeout.
Tech was locked in defensively, though, and strung together a 13-0 run while not allowing a field goal in the final 4:30. Carleigh Wenzel’s jumper before the horn gave the Hokies a 46-28 lead at the half.
“I think they’re getting confidence,” Duffy said of the offensive success. “They’re pretty balanced. I think that’s what we’ve kind of been growing into this season, that it’s different people that can step up. …
“We expected UVa to potentially play their zone, potentially their man, and we just said, ‘Regardless of what they do, we have to almost keep our blinders on and remember what it looks like when it’s good basketball.’ And I thought we made some really good reads off our sets and our offense.”
The Hokies kept their foot on the gas in the second half and never allowed the Cavaliers back in the game. They finally slammed the door shut in a fourth quarter that featured Baker’s fifth trey of the game — on as many attempts — and one triple each from Lani White and Wenzel. Overall, they were 12-of-19 (63%) from behind the arc.
Virginia Tech generated offense in other ways too. It was 19-of-34 (56%) on 2-point shots and made 13 of its 15 free throws. It also moved the ball effectively and racked up 26 assists, a program record in an ACC contest, on 31 baskets. Nine of those came from Wenzel while Mackenzie Nelson and Baker had six each.
“That’s led by Carleigh Wenzel,” Duffy said. “She’s a player that can be at the point for us, she can be off the ball, obviously, she can score the basketball. But her pace to move it initially has been pretty good the last two games. And then I think they’re getting confidence off each other.”
Baker, Ekh, Wenzel and White all finished in double figures. They combined for 65 points — more than UVa’s team output — on 23-of-41 shooting (56%) with 23 rebounds and 18 assists. The quartet shared the ball well and took advantage of the Cavaliers’ slow defensive rotation, and they also attacked the basket when needed.
Petersen had an important nine points, four rebounds and a block in her second career start while fellow freshman Ramiya White gave the Hokies some good minutes at the five and had two points at the foul line. They fared well against a talented big in Lattimore.
“What I liked most today from both of them was their confidence,” Ekh said of Petersen and White. “… I think Kayl was a little nervous having to start [vs. Syracuse], just getting thrown into that position is not always very easy, especially as a freshman. But both of them took some big steps today in terms of just being confident.
“We know they’re good; we know that they can play at this level, but I think today they showed it to themselves and proved it to themselves that they can contribute and they’re important to us.”
Johnson and Clark led Virginia with 16 points apiece, but the group was disjointed and struggled to string anything together. It was the second straight drubbing for the Cavaliers, who lost 101-68 to No. 22 Florida State at home on Thursday.
It was a crucial win for a Virginia Tech squad that entered the day as the last team in the NCAA Tournament in ESPN’s latest bracketology. The Hokies have exceeded expectations in Duffy’s first season and are currently on pace to go dancing, but they had an extra large hurdle to clear in UVa — which they did.
They’re back on the road on Thursday at No. 13 North Carolina, their first of five ACC contests to end the regular season. That’s followed by an open date on Sunday before closing the year with two home games — vs. Stanford and No. 21 Cal — and two road contests — at Boston College and Clemson.
Will Micheaux be back in time for Tech’s game in Chapel Hill? Duffy didn’t provide specifics on the senior’s status, mentioning she’s still day-to-day, but said, “We’re going to get Rose back here pretty quickly.” The Wayne, Mich., native has six double-doubles on the year and is averaging 12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
Box Score: Virginia Tech 87, Virginia 62
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