Takeaways from Tech's Big Ten/ACC Challenge win

Chanette Hicks' huge game paved the way for Hokies' success

December 1, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team delivered perhaps its most complete performance of the young season Thursday night in a 96-49 rout of Illinois in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

“So much energy, the kids were playing hard and we did a really good job of taking them out of what they wanted to do,” said Kenny Brooks. “They were playing for each other and as a result we came away with a fantastic win.”

The program now owns three consecutive wins in the competition, extending Tech’s longest streak.

The win gets the Hokies back into the win column, moving their record to 6-2 ahead of Sunday’s New River Valley showdown with Radford.

Hicks threatens triple-double plateau – Channette Hicks has always been a dynamic playmaker for the Hokies. The leader on defense, with her quick hands and nose-for-the-ball instincts, Hicks can take a turnover and turn it into two points on the other end in the blink of an eye.

“I thought we played so well together,” said Kenny Brooks. “We defended. Kids came out, they were trying to have energy and they did a really good job from start to finish. I think you have to look at Chanette Hicks who really started us off and lead for us and just set the tone. From there everyone followed suit.”

In the first quarter alone, Hicks recorded four steals, each leading to easy buckets for the Hokies, two for her and two for Michelle Berry running the floor in transition.

In program history, Virginia Tech has never had a player record a triple-double. Hicks seriously threatened that mark Thursday night with an impressive stat line, 20 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds and six steals.

What was notable about her performance, was how efficient she was – 10 of 17 from the field with most of her buckets coming in the paint, and a season-low one turnover.

Camp returns to top form – Tech has turned to redshirt junior Rachel Camp to play in the forward spot that Alexis Jean occupied for the first six games of the season. Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Camp has averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, while shooting .521 from the field.

“She’s playing at the four in Alexis Jean’s absence, but I couldn’t fault her energy and her effort,” said Brooks. “I’m very very proud of her, she deserves this. It’s great for her to have a performance like this.”

Thursday night, Camp quietly turned in a solid performance, with 18 points and six rebounds, five coming on the defensive end. In the second quarter, Camp excelled, knocking down three triples as the Hokies pulled away from the Illini.

Hokies’ ‘D’ has best night of season – Tech’s defense hadn’t held an opponent to under 50 points since the season-opening thrashing of Wagner. That changed Thursday when the Hokies clamped down on the Illini, forcing 16 turnovers and allowing just 25.4 percent shooting from the field.

For the first time this season, an opponent did not connect on a single 3-pointer, as Illinois went 0 for 13.

Inside the box score – The Hokies did their best work in transition, often coming off of forced turnovers, outscoring Illinois 20-0 in fast-break opportunities. Tech turned those 16 Illini turnovers into 24 points on the other end.

In the paint, Virginia Tech held a 46-16 advantage in scoring, the widest margin of the season.

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