November 20, 2008
Logan drops career-best 19 on NCCU in 81-45 win
By Matt Kovatch - Inside Hokie Sports
12F
North Carolina Central (0-3) 202545
Virginia Tech (3-0) 423981
  • Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Va. - 1,713
  • High Points: 19 - Lakeisha Logan
  • High Rebounds: 7 - Brittany Gordon

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Lakeisha Logan celebrated her 21st birthday in style on Thursday night, pouring in a career-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting to lead the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team to an easy 81-45 victory over visiting North Carolina Central at Cassell Coliseum.

Logan’s effort included a trio of 3-pointers to give her a team-high six on the year. The 5-foot-8 junior has now scored in double figures in all three of Tech’s games this season and leads the team with 13.7 points per game.

“Just about,” Logan smiled when asked if it was her best birthday ever. “It was fun to come out and play as a team and just get into a rhythm. At first, I was staying back to try and help bring the ball up, but Coach told me they didn’t need any help and that I should just run the floor.”

Every Hokie ran the floor in this one, as Tech (3-0) buried the Eagles (0-3) with a 21-2 advantage in fast-break points, a 52-12 bulge in the points in the paint, and a 22-11 lead in points of off turnovers.

“I tried to emphasize our ability to run and score in transition instead of settling for walking the ball up and setting up a half-court offense,” Tech head coach Beth Dunkenberger said. “There will obviously be a time when we have to run [a half-court offense], but we need to get out and run when we can.”

In addition, the Hokies scored 40 bench points to the Eagles’ six. Also recording career highs on the night for Tech were Brittany Gordon with nine points and three blocks, and Brittany Lewis with eight points. Gordon also tied a personal best with seven rebounds, while Utahya Drye, who added 10 points and six rebounds, tied a collegiate high with six assists.

Tech never trailed in this one, and in fact, has only trailed for a combined total of nine seconds in its three contests this season. North Carolina Central was within six at 14-8 early on, but a 21-2 run by the Hokies over a span of 6:18 built a 33-10 cushion from which the Eagles never recovered. Tech held its largest lead of the season – 40 points at 78-38 with 2:31 left in the game – and went on to post its largest margin of victory since defeating High Point 103-64 in the season opener last year.

The Hokies continued to stifle their opponents on the defensive end, as North Carolina Central shot 29.6 percent in the game. Tech is allowing its opponents to connect on just 32.4 percent from the field in three games this season.

On the other hand, Tech hit 63.2 percent of its shots while dishing out 27 assists on 36 field goals.

Senior Amber Hall saw her first action of the season in the contest, scoring seven points and swatting three shots in just 15 minutes of play.

North Carolina Central was led by Blaire Houston’s 15 points (4-of-5 from long distance) and Jori Nwachukwu’s 14.

Tech will now hit the road to take on George Mason in Fairfax at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WBBall).

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