Hokies host Huskers for ACC/B1G Challenge

Tech faces Nebraska at 7 p.m. Thursday

November 30, 2016

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech women's basketball team is set to host Nebraska as part of the 2016 ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: December 1, 2016 / 7 p.m.
Opponent: Nebraska
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: WatchESPN
Game Notes: Virginia Tech | Nebraska

THE HOKIES (6-0)
Virginia Tech is off to a 6-0 start this season, marking the program’s best start since the 2005-06 campaign. Chanette Hicks led the Hokies with 24 points and a career-high eight steals, helping to force the Lady Vols into 21 turnovers. Sidney Cook added a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Regan Magarity dropped in 16 points and tallied five boards.

The Hokies jumped out to the early lead and were up 18-10 at the end of the opening quarter. Tennessee used a 13-4 run in the second quarter to go into the break on top 31-28. The two teams kept it close in the third and were tied 44-44 before Tech used a 13-0 run to go up 57-44 early in the fourth. The Lady Vols responded, closing the gap to 62-61 with just under a minute to go, but Hicks scored four unanswered to give the Hokies a 66-61 lead. UT sank one more basket, but a Samantha Hill free throw with two seconds on the clock helped seal the win.

Hicks leads the Hokies in the early season, averaging 18.8 points, 4.1 assists and 4.7 steals per game. Cook is posting 13.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg. Hill is tallying 10.5 ppg while Magarity is averaging 10.7 ppg and 6.7 rebounds per game. Hicks, Cook and Magarity are also all connecting on 50 percent or more from the field.

THE HUSKERS (3-3)
Nebraska fell to Virginia 73-51 the last time out. Jessica Shepard led the team with 12 points. Maddie Simon chipped in eight for the Huskers. Jasmine Cincore and Darrien Washington led on the boards with five rebounds each.

Nebraska trailed UVA throughout much of the game and was down 40-26 at the break. The Cavaliers kept the momentum going and took their largest lead at 71-36 with just over six minutes to go in the game. Nebraska looked to make a late surge, outscoring UVA 15-2 to close out the game.

Shepard leads the team, averaging 17.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Nicea Eliely is adding 7.0 ppg and handing out 3.2 apg. Allie Havers is grabbing 6.5 rpg.

THE SERIES
This marks the first meeting between the Hokies and Huskers. Tech is 17-30 all-time against teams from the Big Ten, but the Hokies won last season’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge game, defeating Penn State 64-59 on the road. With the win Tech improved to 3-6 in challenge contests.

Up Next: Virginia Tech remains at home to host Gardner-Webb on Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

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