Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball Bounces Back in Dominant Fashion Against Presbyterian
After a tough loss to Duke just days earlier, Virginia Tech women’s basketball responded the way good teams do - with focus, energy, and a whole lot of points. The Hokies rolled past Presbyterian 92-36 on Wednesday night at Cassell Coliseum, putting together a wire-to-wire performance that checked nearly every box.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. Virginia Tech (8-3) controlled every phase of the game, pulling down 49 rebounds while holding the Blue Hose (2-9) to just 12 made field goals on 49 attempts. That’s a defensive clampdown if there ever was one.
A Fast Start and a Balanced Finish
From the opening tip, the Hokies looked locked in. They built a 46-14 lead by halftime, fueled by 14 offensive boards and a relentless pace that Presbyterian simply couldn’t match.
And the best part? Every single Hokie who touched the floor contributed to the scoreboard.
All eleven players logged minutes - and all eleven scored.
Head coach Megan Duffy, who took the helm this season, was pleased with how her team responded after Sunday’s loss.
“I really liked our focus tonight. I thought we were ready to play,” Duffy said postgame. “It was great to see everybody get in the scoring column and put some great minutes on the board for us.”
Suffren Leads the Way, Fresh Faces Shine
Samyha Suffren led the charge with a season-high 17 points on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting night. She added two rebounds and two assists, but her impact went beyond the stat sheet - she set the tone early with her energy and decision-making.
Leila Wells made her first start of the season and made it count, dropping a career-high 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Kilah Freelon matched that scoring total with 13 of her own, while also grabbing seven rebounds.
But it wasn’t just the regulars doing the damage. The Hokies’ depth was on full display, especially during a dominant 19-0 run in the third quarter that completely blew the game open. Freshmen Amani Jenkins, Aniya Trent, and Spela Brecelj all saw extended minutes - and they delivered.
Trent chipped in nine points, Jenkins added eight, and Brecelj brought energy on both ends. Sophie Swanson also added six points and two assists in her 10+ minutes of action. For a team still figuring out its rotation, these kinds of performances from the bench are gold.
“I just thought we shared the ball well,” Duffy said. “It was great to see our freshmen really be aggressive when they were out there. Between Amani, AT and Spela - just some great minutes overall.”
Room for Growth at the Line and Beyond the Arc
Despite the lopsided score, not everything was perfect. Virginia Tech struggled from both the free-throw line and the three-point arc - two areas that could prove critical in tighter matchups down the road. The Hokies went just 3-for-12 from deep (matching Presbyterian’s clip) and 13-for-26 at the stripe.
Duffy acknowledged the need for improvement.
“We’re going to be back in the gym tomorrow, shooting some free throws,” she said. “But overall, I thought the fact that we were aggressive was pretty good.”
And aggressive they were. Tech drew 20 fouls, scored 44 points in the paint, and racked up 39 points off turnovers.
They also got 23 points from the bench and nine off fast breaks. It was a complete team effort, with every statistical category swinging heavily in their favor.
Resetting the Standard
Coming into the night, Virginia Tech had dropped three of its last five, including a 16-point loss to Duke - their worst of the season. So while Presbyterian may sit at the bottom of the Division I NET rankings, this game was about more than just the final score. It was about resetting the tone and getting back to what makes this team dangerous.
“I think the biggest thing with our group is we’re just talking about the standard we need to bring every day - whether that’s from the opening tip, coming out of the locker room, trying to be the same every day with our intensity,” Duffy said.
With conference play looming and December marching on, consistency becomes the name of the game. And Wednesday night? That was a step in the right direction.
“When you get to this point in mid-December, it is literally one day at a time in keeping everybody healthy together, taking care of their bodies and taking care of their mental side,” Duffy said. “We’ll be back on the practice floor as the next thing.”
For now, the Hokies can take a breath - and take pride in a win that showed just how deep, talented, and focused this team can be when it’s all clicking.