January 17, 2001

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Virginia Tech used a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to pick up a 64-52 victory over Boston College here Wednesday night. The victory was the Hokies first-ever BIG EAST road win.

Virginia Tech (11-5, 2-3) bounced back from a loss last Saturday's loss at #3 Notre Dame with a stellar defensive effort limiting Boston College to 34.5 percent (19-55) from the field. The Eagles (7-9, 1-4), picked fourth in the preseason coach's poll, dropped its fourth consecutive game with the loss.

The Hokies trailed 11-4 early but used a 7-0 run late in the first half to tie the game at 25 with 2:33 remaining in the opening frame. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half until Christina Strother hit a layup just before the buzzer to give Tech a 29-28 advantage at the intermission.

Tech opened the second stanza on a 9-2 run to build a 38-30 lead with just under 16 minutes remaining. After the Eagles closed to within three at 40-37, the Hokies regained control with a 10-0 spurt and led comfortably the rest of the way.

Sarah Hicks and Tere Williams led Tech with 12 points each with Hicks' points all coming in the second half. Ieva Kublina and Chrystal Starling added ten points each off the Hokies' bench. Amy Wetzel hit a free throw with 1:45 left in the game to become Tech's all-time free throws made leader passing Renee Dennis. Wetzel's free throw total now stands at 435.

Boston College was led by Becky Gottstein with 24 points.

Virginia Tech returns home on Saturday to face Georgetown in a 7 p.m. contest.