Hokies host Navy in WNIT second round

Tech takes on Mids 2 p.m. Sunday at Cassell Coliseum

March 18, 2017

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech women's basketball team is set to host the Patriot League's Navy in the second round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 19. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum.

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: March 19, 2017 / 2 p.m.
Opponent: Navy
Site: Blacksburg, Va. (Cassell Coliseum)
Radio: 100.7 FM WNMX / HokiesXtra
Talent: Andrew Allegretta, play-by-play
TV: N/A
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Live Video: HokieSports.com
Game Notes: Virginia Tech

THE HOKIES (18-13)
Virginia Tech defeated Rider 76-62 to open the 2017 WNIT. Regan Magarity had her 15th double-double of the year to lead the Hokies with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Chanette Hicks tallied 21 points, five rebounds and two assists while Samantha Hill tallied 19 points and six rebounds.

Tech and Rider opened the game keeping it close before the Hokies used an 11-2 run midway through the first quarter to go on top 17-6 with 1:30 on the clock. Virginia Tech was up 22-11 heading into the second, but the Broncs opened the frame, outscoring the Hokies 7-0 to close it to four early. The rest of the second quarter was all Hokies as they outscored Rider 23-1 to go into the break up 45-19. The Broncs looked to make a run coming out of the intermission and used a stretch of outscoring Tech 13-5 to get the deficit under 20 with 2:23 to go in the third. The Hokies pushed their lead back to 21 early in the fourth, but Rider again responded and closed it to 63-50 midway through. The Broncs kept it under 20 the rest of the way, but got no closer than 14 in the final minutes.

Hicks leads the Hokies, averaging 16.2 points, 5.1 assists and 3.5 steals per game. Magarity is averaging 14.0 ppg and 9.9 rebounds per game. Sidney Cook is posting 13.0 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Hill is adding 10.3 ppg.

THE MIDS (24-9)
Navy rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat George Washington, 61-51 in overtime during the opening round. The victory in the first round of the WNIT was the first post-season tournament win in Navy’s (24-9) history. Sarita Condie had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the Mids while Taylor Dunham added 15 points and nine boards.

The opening half was close between the Mids and the Colonials with GW holding a slight 21-20 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, the Colonials pushed their lead and were on top by 35-31 heading into the final 10 minutes. Navy fell behind by 10 just shy of the midway point in the fourth quarter before going to work. The Mids hit a pair of long-range baskets to cut the deficit and tied it up at 48-48. Neither team could connect in the final seconds as the game went into overtime. Navy dominated the extra frame, outscoring the Colonials 13-3.

Condie leads the Mids, averaging 13.8 points per game. Dunham is adding 10.3 ppg and has dished out 108 assists this season. Justice Swett leads Navy on the boards with 6.9 rpg and has recorded 84 steals for the defense. Hannah Fenske has handed out 107 assists. Kaila Clark has posted 57 blocks on the defensive side.

THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between the Hokies and Mids. Tech is 6-1 all-time against teams from the Patriot League. The Hokies most recently defeated Bucknell 87-49 on Nov. 17, 2013. Vanessa Panousis and Tara Nahodil both appeared in the game for the Hokies. Panousis had nine points and four assists in the win.

Both teams faced Wake Forest and Tennessee this season. Navy came up short against the Deacs 75-65 and fell to the Lady Vols 85-55. Tech defeated Wake 72-70 and claimed a 67-63 win over Tennessee.

Up Next: With a win, the Hokies would advance to face the winner of Penn State/Fordham in the Sweet 16. Date and time are TBD.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WBBall