BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech women’s basketball team limited Morgan State to just 6-of-30 shooting in the first half as they jumped out to a 33-14 lead on Wednesday night in a 73-33 victory at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies, coming off a win over then-No. 8/8 Tennessee, improve to 8-1 on the season winning their sixth straight contest. Morgan State falls to 2-8 on the year.
Three players scored in double figures for the Hokies as Sidney Cook tallied 14 points to go along with eight rebounds while Vanessa Panousis had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds. Hannah Young added 13 points and four rebounds. Chanette Hicks added nine points, five boards, five assists and two steals.
“I applaud our team for the effort they put forth defensively this game,” head coach Dennis Wolff said. “A bounce-back game after a terrific week last week is sometimes not the easiest thing. With holding Taijah [Campbell] out and Regan’s [Magarity] calf tightening a bit during the game, I thought we got great contributions from Sidney and Hannah in the second half to get us going.”
For the game, the Hokies shot an efficient 45.0-percent from the floor and 41.7-percent from 3-point range. Tech outrebounded Morgan State 49-30, held a 24-12 advantage in points in the paint and a 17-6 edge in points off turnovers.
In the first quarter, Tech jumped out to a 9-0 lead as they held the Bears scoreless for the first 6:10 of the contest. During the run, Dominique Powell contributed a basket and two free throws. The Hokies would eventually expand their lead to 15-2 by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was closer as Tech only held an 18-12 advantage in the period. Morgan State shot 20.0-percent from the field while the Hokies went 12-of-35 (34.5-percent). The Hokies took a 33-14 lead into the break.
Tech had a 33-21 advantage in rebounds in the first half, including 15 offensive boards though the Hokies only turned it into a 5-2 edge in second chance points.
The second half started on a 11-2 run as Young knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers and Cook added another. Young knocked down her third consecutive 3-point attempt to cap off the run.
The Hokies’ shooting improved in the third and fourth quarter as they went 11-of-17 from the floor and 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Tech’s defense continued to limit Morgan State as the Bears shot 5-of-20 overall and 1-of-7 from behind the arc.
Tech will be return to play on Sunday, Dec. 13 at noon as they host Coppin State. In the first contest of a doubleheader with the Virginia Tech men’s team who faces Lamar at 3 p.m.
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