Game #19 @ Virginia Tech

The Commonwealth State road trip ends tomorrow night with a 7 p.m. game against Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum. Tech comes into the game ranked #18/24 and 14-3 on the season. They are 1-3 in the ACC with losses to NC State, Virginia and Wake Forest. They played no one in the non-conference portion of their schedule, but somehow have a high RPI. They have won three straight against us so it's time for the streak to end.

The Hokies are not as athletic as us and tend to play a slow methodical game making the most out of each possession. Last year, Carrie Mason had a field day against us from the perimeter. They don't possess much height aside from their 6'6 junior, who when I saw her play last year was very raw. Finnerty and Jackson are more like Jady Perry type players. Gardin is an athletic forward who attacks the glass and can slash. Judging by their shooting numbers they tend to be post oriented as they are shooting 44% from the floor, but only 32% from 3. Mason and Cook are the three-point shooters. They don't shoot well from the free throw line, and they have high rebounding numbers, but they didn't fare so well against BC and Wake on the glass.

VT Roster | VT Stats

Keys to the game

Dominating the paint. VT has a ton of bodies to throw down there and they have wide bodies to box out Lang and Harper. We have to control the glass and get them in foul trouble.

Limit their three point shots. We lost last year because they had too many wide open looks. Mason is deadly when open.

Control Gardin and Criss. These slashing forwards have given us fits all year.

Limit the Turnovers. The Hokies average only 70 ppg and hold opponents to 62 ppg. We have to make the most of our opportunities.

Play defense like we did in Overtime on Friday. That effort needs to be there for longer than 5 minute spurts.

Shay needs to emerge from her slump. She's averaging 8.9 ppg in ACC play, not what one expects from a First Team All-ACC player.

This game is a must win as it helps separate us from the pack especially with winnable games vs. GT and Wake on the horizon.

Maryland Game Notes | VT Game Notes