No. 25 Virginia Tech hosts Central Connecticut State

Game time is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Cassell

December 6, 2016

BLACKSBURG - The 25th-ranked Virginia Tech women's basketball team is set to host Central Connecticut State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 in the first game of a doubleheader with the Tech men's basketball team who will play UMES at 8:30.

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: December 7, 2016 / 6 p.m.
Opponent: Central Connecticut State
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 / HokieVision
Game Notes: Virginia Tech

THE HOKIES (8-0)
Virginia Tech is off to a 8-0 start this season, and ranked in the AP top-25 for the first time since 2006 and claimed a decisive 76-42 decision against Gardner-Webb the last time out. Sidney Cook led a quintet of Hokies in double-digit scoring with 17 points while grabbing seven boards. Chanette Hicks added 16 points, tallied seven assists and three steals. Vanessa Panousis had 14 points while Kendyl Brooks chipped in 10. Regan Magarity posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds and Kaela Kinder had a big night on the boards with 12 rebounds.

The Hokies and GWU kept it close early in the opening period with the Hokies leading by just five with 2:11 to play before scoring seven unanswered to push the lead to double-digits. The Runnin’ Bulldogs got it back under 10 in the second frame, but Tech against responded to take a 17-point 36-19 lead into the break. Coming out of the intermission, the Hokies kept their run alive to pull ahead 41-19. GWU was unable to get anything going in the second half as Tech outscored the Bulldogs 40-23 after the break.

Hicks leads the Hokies in the early season, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 assists and 4.6 steals per game. Cook is posting 14.0 ppg and 8.6 rpg. Magarity is averaging 12.4 ppg and 7.6 rebounds per game while Samantha Hill is dropping in 9.0 ppg.

THE BLUE DEVILS (1-6)
Central Connecticut State fell to Syracuse 95-63 the last time out. Taylor Goode led the Blue Devils with 14 points off the bench. Andy Lydon and Aleah Epps added 10 points each. Giocelis Reynoso grabbed five rebounds to lead on the boards while Epps handed out four assists.

The Blue Devils trailed just 13-8 at the first media timeout and went into the quarter break down 25-15. Cuse and CCSU traded points in the second frame with the Orange holding a 20-18 advantage in the quarter to maintain the lead at the break. After the half, the Orange took control, outscoring the Blue Devils 27-12 in the third en route to holding a 50-30 advantage in the second half to secure the win.

Epps is leading the Blue Devils with 13.9 points per game. Kiana Patterson is adding 8.1 ppg. Reynoso leads on the boards, grabbing 9.3 rpg while Lydon is pulling down 8.3 rpg.

THE SERIES
This marks the first meeting between the Hokies and CCSU. Tech is 5-1 all-time against teams from the Northeast Conference. Tech most recently faced the NEC’s Mount St. Mary’s last season, defeating the Mountaineers 59-42.

Up Next: Virginia Tech remains at Cassell to host Bowling Green on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m.

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