Virginia Tech had to work for it in Richmond, but the Hokies left with a 77-66 road win over VCU after shaking off a stubborn first half and pulling away late.
The game was tied 30-30 at the break, and for a while it looked like the Lady Rams might keep things tight all night. VCU is in rebuilding mode with a new coach and new players, so the matchup came with plenty of uncertainty. Virginia Tech’s mix of returning pieces and new faces ended up making the difference once the second half opened up.
The biggest story belonged to freshman center Jessica Dimaro. The 6-foot-4 post turned in a record-setting performance, finishing with 23 points and 24 rebounds.
That double-double is the first time, ever in program history. By halftime, she was already piling up numbers at both ends and giving Tech a badly needed anchor while the rest of the offense struggled to find its rhythm.
Carleigh Wenzel had a rough first half, and the Hokies felt it. When she’s rolling, Virginia Tech usually follows, but her shots weren’t dropping early and the offense stalled around her.
Then came the second half, and Wenzel snapped back into form. She opened the third quarter with a layup, added another one less than a minute later, then knocked down two free throws and finally buried a trey with just under two minutes left in the period.
By the end of the quarter, she was back in double figures with 11.
Alyssa Latham also delivered a major lift. She finished with 19 points and five rebounds, including four offensive boards that helped create extra chances for the Hokies. Had she converted all four of her missed free throws, she would have tied Dimaro in scoring.
Anyia Trent made her presence felt on the glass as well. She scored just four points on two made baskets, but her 10 rebounds - four offensive and six defensive - were a huge part of Virginia Tech’s control inside. She also added two assists and a block.
Coach Duffy kept the rotation moving, using the full nine-player bench/starter mix. Samyha Suffren struggled with her shot but still managed 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Kate Sears chipped in a rebound and 4 assists, while Leila Wells scored 4 points, handed out 4 assists and picked off 2 steals.
Virginia Tech returns to Cassell on Sunday for another preseason test against LaSalle.
In Other News...
Jessie Dimaro Gave Virginia Tech Fans A Night They Wont Forget
Virginia Techs womens basketball team finally got its first road win of the 2026-27 season at VCU, and Jessie Dimaro made sure it came with plenty of noise. The Hokies won 77-66 behind a monster night from Dimaro, who piled up 23 points while setting new program records with 17 offensive rebounds and 24 total rebounds. It was the kind of performance that changes the feel of a game, especially away from home, where second chances can swing everything.
The victory also came with a milestone for Megan Duffy, who picked up her 200th career win as a head coach. For Virginia Tech, it was more than just a clean result in an early road test. It was a reminder that the Hokies can win in different ways, and that Dimaros presence on the glass gives this team a very real edge when the margin starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Could Get A Huge O-Line Boost This Weekend
Justin Terrys return could give Virginia Tech a timely lift up front, and the latest update suggests the left tackle is moving in the right direction. Head coach James Franklin said Terry practiced fully for the first time since suffering a leg injury in Week 3, a sign that the Hokies may be getting closer to having their offensive line intact again.
Franklin also said Terry is ahead of schedule, but his status for the upcoming game is still up in the air and could come down to a game-time decision. If he is able to go, Virginia Tech would be close to full strength along the offensive line, a welcome development for a unit that has been waiting on one of its key pieces to come back. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Has A Chance To Answer One Big Question Saturday
Virginia Tech gets Stanford at Lane Stadium on Saturday, and the matchup offers a chance for the Hokies to show whether their recent form is a sign of something more durable. Around the program, the read is fairly consistent: several staff members see this as a game Virginia Tech should be able to handle, pointing to the way the Hokies have been playing and the edges they appear to have in this one.
Still, the bigger question is less about the prediction and more about the response. Home games like this tend to reveal whether a team can turn favorable matchups into clean, convincing results, and Virginia Tech will have the spotlight on it in front of its own crowd. Stanford brings enough of a test to keep the focus honest, but the Hokies also have an opportunity to answer the kind of question that lingers beyond one Saturday. [Read more 🡒]