August 15, 2004

LOGAN CITY, Queensland -- Virginia Tech scored early and often Sunday evening behind the shooting of Fran Recchia to cruise to an easy 103-71 win over the Brisbane Capitals. Tech is now 4-0 with one game remaining on the Australian tour.

Recchia (r-Jr., Flower Mound, Texas) erupted for eight three-point baskets en route to a game-high 24 points. Tech placed six players in double figures as Kirby Copeland (So., Morrow, Ga.) added 20 points, Nare Diawara (So., Bamako, Mali) had 14 followed by Carrie Mason (Jr., Seneca, Pa.) and Kerri Gardin (Jr., Morgonton, N.C.) with 11 each and Dawn Chriss (Jr., Hilcrest Heights, Md.) added 10 points. Diawara also led the Hokies with 11 boards and six blocks.

Tech shot 54.4 percent (43-79) from the field and held a commanding 49-25 advantage on the boards. With the help of Recchia, the Hokies were 9-of-16 from behind the arc and held the Capitals to only 31 points in the second half.

Leading only 37-35 with 5:30 remaining in the first half, Tech put together a 14-5 run to build a 51-40 halftime advantage. The Hokies would extend the lead to 16 points at the end of three quarters before completely dominating the final quarter outscoring the Capitals 27-11 to run away with the victory

Tech will play the final game of the tour Wednesday night at 6:30 against the Cairns Dolphins. The Hokies will depart Cairns Thursday at 3 a.m. to begin a scheduled 35 hour trip back to Blacksburg with stops in Sydney, Los Angles, Dallas and Charlotte before arriving back on the Tech campus by bus around midnight.