Virginia Tech ran away from Towson in a 100-56 victory to start the 2025-26 season on Tuesday night in Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (1-0) opened the floodgates with a 9-0 run to begin the second half, and what was an 11-point margin at the break, 41-30, expanded to 33 at the end of the third quarter, 75-42.
“Just proud of our team,” Tech head coach Megan Duffy said. “You never know in the first game as a coach how we’re all going to come out, but I thought we made some improvements as the game went on. It was great to have everybody get in the game. Overall, just super excited about the first win.”
Tech sophomore forward Kayl Petersen led the way with her first double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds — both career-highs.
“Saw a little bit of freshman year, little bit of jitters,” Petersen said. “… Just playing confident. Teammates are getting me open shots and that’s really what it was, and rebounding, which is my job.”
She was 5-for-7 from the field, which included a perfect 2-for-2 mark from 3-point range, and also drilled all five of her free throws. The Waupun, Wis., native led the charge on the glass, too, which the Hokies won 59-31.
“I always think there’s a big jump from your freshman to your sophomore year, and Kayl just fills into her role so nicely,” Duffy said. “Just does all the small things for us. Carys [Baker] got a couple fouls and was out in that first half, [Kayl] just seamlessly went in and got a couple buckets, big rebounds, and then that three ball opened up in the second half. Just very proud of her game. … Great night for Kayl across the board. … Couldn’t ask for a better opener for her.”
Texas Tech transfer Kilah Freelon also posted her fifth career double-double with 15 points — on 7-for-11 shooting — and 11 rebounds. She’s the first Hokies player with a double-double in a debut since Trinity Baptiste had 10 points and 10 boards vs. USC Upstate on Nov. 6, 2018.
“I think Kilah did a really good job for us running the court,” Tech guard Carleigh Wenzel said. “I think the length she brings and that athleticism is a game-changer for us.”
The Hokies finished 48.7 percent from the floor as a team — 37-for-76 — and had 87 possessions over 40 minutes. Part of the up-tempo nature of the game was due to the Tigers’ (0-1) style, but Tech also wants to play faster this season.
“That’s what we’re trying to incorporate this year,” Wenzel said. “Last year, I think we kind of settled things down a lot. That’s just not what we want to do this year. Kind of get things going, whether that be defensively, getting steals and getting out, or just getting it right out of the net and pushing pace.”
It tallied 19 fastbreak points along with 22 assists on 37 made field goals — to just 14 turnovers, only five of which came in the second half. Mackenzie Nelson and Wenzel controlled the flow well with seven and six assists, respectively.
“We talked a lot coming into this game about them dictating the pace and the tempo and doing it in different ways,” Duffy said, “and I thought they did a great job finding different teammates. I thought the way they spread the ball around was really positive tonight. Both very good passers and capable of scoring it too, so I think every game they just have to find their balance of distributing and then taking their open shots.”
It was a balanced offensive attack that featured five double-figure scorers. Wenzel notched 14 to accompany five rebounds, three steals and two blocks while Samyha Suffren chipped in 12 points, four rebounds and three steals in her first game back after suffering a season-ending injury last year. Northwestern transfer Mel Daley dropped 11 points in her Tech debut.
Nelson quietly had nine points and six boards to go with her seven assists while Baker, who spent a chunk of the first half in foul trouble, hauled in eight points and seven rebounds. Leila Wells also chipped in a career-high seven points while Purdue transfer Sophie Swanson scored five. Wenzel noted that Swanson, who played just 12 minutes, is on a minutes restriction coming off an injury.
The Hokies only attempted nine 3-pointers, three of which were made — two from Petersen and one from Swanson. Duffy explained it was just the way this particular matchup played out.
“I wouldn’t look too much into it,” Duffy said. “I think it’s a little bit of different styles we’re going to play in non-conference, and obviously we got some easy baskets out in transition and we didn’t need to shoot a lot of threes, so I think it’s a little bit of a mix. I think we’ll definitely be a team that can do both depending on what the defense gives us.”
The Hokies’ defense held Towson to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor, which included a 4-for-15 mark from 3-point range. All four makes came in the fourth quarter.
Yet, it was an uptick in defensive intensity to begin the third, where Tech forced five consecutive misses and a turnover from the Tigers, that flipped the game. In the end, it outscored them 34-12 in the third quarter.
“That’s just our defensive side of things,” Petersen said. “Our defense fuels our offense. … Just being able to get defensive stops and then get out in transition and push the pace is what led to that.”
Tuesday marked the first time the Hokies scored 100 points in regulation since they dropped 105 on Houston Christian two years ago.
Tech has four more games in a row at home to start the season, including Sunday’s 2 p.m. ET contest vs. Loyola (Md.).
Box Score: Virginia Tech 100, Towson 56
Thoughts from #Hokies women's basketball's season-opening 100-56 win over Towson: pic.twitter.com/lRzt3tU1Ax
— David Cunningham (@therealdcunna) November 5, 2025