Tweet

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech women's basketball team will host in-state rival Virginia on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: January 4, 2015 / 2 p.m.
Opponent: Virginia
Site: Blacksburg, Va. (Cassell Coliseum)
Radio: 100.7 FM WNMX / HokiesXtra
Talent: Andrew Allegretta, play-by-play
TV: N/A
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Live Video: HokiesXtra - Free
Game Notes: Virginia Tech | Virginia

THE HOKIES (9-5, 0-1 ACC)
Virginia Tech is looking to bounce back after a tough overtime road loss at Clemson to open the ACC slate. Vanessa Panousis led the Hokies with 16 points. Taijah Campbell recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Sidney Cook added the first double-double of her career with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Tech held the lead and was up 31-29 at the break. The Hokies maintained the advantage until the second half and were up by 10 with 5:58 to go. Clemson responded with a 14-4 run over the final minutes as the two teams were knotted at 52 with 50 second remaining. Neither team was able to get a basket in the final seconds, forcing the game into overtime. The Tigers controlled the extra minutes, outscoring the Hokies 11-2 to secure the win.

Rachel Camp is leading the Hokies on the season, averaging 16.8 points per game and currently ranks seventh in the ACC in scoring and is the top freshman in the league. In addition, Camp is pulling down 7.0 rebounds per game, ranking 12th in the league. Panousis is adding 14.1 points (12th in the ACC) and handing out 3.9 assists per game to rank fifth in the conference. The sophomore guard is also third on the ACC list for three-pointers made, averaging 2.6.

THE CAVALIERS (10-3, 0-0 ACC)
This will be the ACC opener for Virginia with the Cavaliers having closed out their non-conference slate with a 72-66 win over Drexel on Dec. 29. Sarah Imovbioh had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead a quartet of ‘Hoos in double-digit scoring. Mikayla Venson added 16 points, Faith Randolph tallied 12 and Breyana Mason chipped in 11.

The Cavaliers had a 31-22 lead at the break, but Drexel came back to cut it to a one point 44-43 difference with 8:34 to play. That is as close as the Dragons would get as UVA held off the late surge.

Randolph leads UVA on the season, averaging 18.1 points per game. Imovbioh is one of three players in the ACC averaging a double-double with 16 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Venson is adding 11.1 ppg. Mason has dished out 50 assists this season and ranks seventh in the league with 3.8 apg.

THE SERIES
The series against UVA marks one of the oldest in program history with the two teams meeting every season except one (1991-92) since 1976. Virginia holds the 43-8 lead in the all-time series and the Hokies will be looking to snap a 16-game skid against the Cavaliers after three of the last four contests by a combined 14 points. Last season in Blacksburg, the Cavaliers rallied in the second half for a 67-60 win. Panousis is the top Hokie returner from the game with 10 points. Campbell tallied a career-high seven blocks. UVA’s top returner is Randolph who had 10 points. Imovbioh grabbed 14 rebounds and tallied four points.

Up Next: The Hokies go back on the road, traveling to NC State on January 8 for a 7 p.m. game at Reynolds Coliseum.

This Game is sponsored by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of Virginia Tech Athletics. It is also a potential half point in the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash, the new point rivalry series between University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. Currently the score for the Clash is University of Virginia 4.5 and Virginia Tech 1.5. Learn more about Virginia529 and this new competition at thecommonwealthclash.com.

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