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No. 18/18 Tech defeats Clemson, 78-69
Hokies improve to 15-0, 2-0 in the ACC
January 8, 2017
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 (18) Virginia Tech (15-0, 2-0 ACC) | 17 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 78 |
 Clemson (11-5, 0-3 ACC) | 15 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 69 |
| |||||
CLEMSON, S.C. – The 18th-ranked Virginia Tech women’s basketball team continued its winning ways as the Hokies defeated Clemson 78-69 on Sunday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. Tech improved to 15-0 on the season and 2-0 in the ACC.
Samantha Hill and Chanette Hicks led the Hokies with 16 points each. Hicks also tallied four assists and three steals in just 20 minutes of play after being sidelined with foul trouble. Regan Magarity added another double-double to her resume with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Sidney Cook added 13 points in the win.
“It was probably my least favorite performance of the season,” said head coach Kenny Brooks. “We haven’t practiced well the past couple of days; we have a few kids under the weather and we just didn’t have IT today. I thought we were sluggish, but I think it’s a learning experience for the kids on an away floor. We expect so much out of each other and our team and what we’re capable of doing and we just didn’t have it today. I thought Sami did a really good job manning the point in Chanette’s absence. Sid is really under the weather right now and she came out and played but just wasn’t completely herself today. You just have to grind through in those times. This Clemson team is much improved, and they put us in some situations today we didn’t handle well. We are very happy with the win, but we also understand we have to do better to come out and get ACC wins.
The Hokies and Tigers traded baskets in the opening quarter and were tied at 9-9 as Tech went on a 10-0 run over a two-minute span, highlighted by six points from Magarity, to go on top 17-9. Clemson scored the final six points to cut the Tech lead down 17-15 at the quarter break. Tech opened the second, outscoring the Tigers 14-4 in the first four minutes to take a 31-19 lead. The Hokies went up by as many as 13 (36-23) in the frame, but Clemson again answered at the end of the frame to cut the Tech advantage to 39-32 at the break.
Tech came out strong in the third quarter to go ahead by 16 (56-40) off a jumper from Vanessa Panousis with 5:06 on the clock, but the Tigers again used a late-frame run to cut the Hokies lead to 59-49. A layup from Hill in the last 30 seconds of the quarter gave Tech a 61-49 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. The Hokies again pushed their lead to open the final quarter as a layup from Cook put Tech on top 67-53 with 6:46 to go. Clemson looked to battle back, cutting it to six heading into the final minute. Tech went 5-of-6 from the line and allowed just one more Tigers’ field goal to close out the game for the win.
The Tigers held the advantage on the boards with 42 rebounds to Tech’s 35, but only held just a 10-8 advantage in second-chance points. Tech forced 18 turnovers, while only giving the ball up eight times for 22 points off turnovers.
Virginia Tech remains on the road for the next game, traveling to No. 14 Miami on Wednesday, Jan. 11 for a 7 p.m. game at BankUnited Center.
For updates on Virginia Tech women's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WBBall
