February 27, 2005

Box Score

Virginia Tech 90, Miami 45

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech Hokies played with ruthless efficiency on both ends of the court and closed out the regular season with a convincing 90-45 victory over the University of Miami. The win improved Tech's record to 17-10 overall and 6-8 in the ACC, while Miami fell to 12-15 and 4-10 in the conference in front of 3,792 fans at Cassell Coliseum.

The win means that the Hokies will be ranked seventh going into the ACC Tournament and will play Wake Forest in the first round of the tournament at 6 p.m. on March 4. Wake lost to UVa 57-54 today and will enter the tournament as the No. 10 seed.

The Hokies came in needing to make a statement for the NCAA selection committee, and they certainly did that from the opening tip. The Hokies hit six of their first eight shots from the field and built a 15-2 lead by the first media timeout.

Tech wasn't content with that initial blitz, though. The Hokies continued dominating until Fran Recchia drained a 3-pointer with 6:35 remaining in the first half. That shot gave the Hokies a remarkable 33-4 lead. The Hokies hit 13 of their first 24 shots from the field in that opening 14 minutes of play. By contrast, the Hurricanes connected on just two of their first 19 shots.

Miami played Tech even over the final six minutes of the half, but by that point the damage was done. Tech led 47-20 at halftime and every Hokie but one had scored.

There was no let up in the second half as the Hokies came out and outscored Miami 14-4 to start the second frame and expand their lead to 61-24. After that run pushed Tech's lead to 37 points, the outcome was never in doubt. The Hokies shot 54.1 percent from the floor in the game and hit 20-of-27 free throws. Tech also handed out 23 assists in the game, led by Carrie Mason's seven.

Tech's defense was just as dominant in the second half. Miami shot just 29.5 percent from the field in the game, while the Hokies forced 18 Miami turnovers and pilfered 12 steals.

The game represented what may have been the final home game in the career of senior center Erin Gibson. Gibson went out in style with 12 points and four rebounds in 21 minutes of action. She moved past both Angie Kelly and Sarah Hicks into 12^th place on Tech's career scoring list. The senior from Galax, Va., now has 1,096 points in her career. Head coach Beth Dunkenberger lifted her late in the game and the Tech faithful gave her a standing ovation.

Along with Gibson, Kerri Gardin (16 points), Britney Anderson (12 points), Dawn Chriss and Mason (11 points each) reached double figures in the contest. Kirby Copeland narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Katie Hayek led Miami with 13 points. Miami's Tamara James, who entered the game as the nation's leading scorer, scored just 12 points. She came in to the contest averaging over 23 points an outing, and in the previous meeting this season she torched the Hokies for 35. Gardin and Megan Finnerty combined to hold James to just 5-of-18 from the field.

The win snapped a four-game Tech losing streak to the Hurricanes dating back three seasons. Tech had lost the earlier meeting this season 78-67. In that game, the Hokies committed 26 turnovers, but in this game the Hokies cut that number in half, turning the ball over just 13 times.

The Hokies now move on to face the Demon Deacons in the first round of the ACC Tournament. The Hokies beat Wake in Blacksburg earlier this season 74-64.

The Virginia Tech ticket office still has tickets available for the tournament in Greensboro. To purchase tickets call the ticket office at 1-800-VATECH4.