Hokies make easy work of Gardner-webb

Jackson Didlake

December 7, 2020

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech secured a perfect record in non-conference play on Sunday, never trailing in a blowout 73-39 victory over Gardner-Webb.

“We really have to be better going into ACC play,” Aisha Sheppard said. “We’re going to see a lot of good coaches making adjustments that we just haven’t seen.”

Virginia Tech dominated on the boards, as the Hokies (5-0) outrebounded the Runnin’ Bulldogs (0-4) 58-40, with Elizabeth Kitley grabbing 17.

Kitley notched her fifth straight double-double, while she and Sheppard both scored a game-high 17 points. Additionally, Georgia Amoore and Asiah Jones added 15 points of their own.

Emma Capps and Cierra Bell were the leading scorers for the Runnin’ Bulldogs with eight points each.

The Hokies shot 45.6% from the field, including 33.3% from three while holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs (0-4) to 20% from the field and 11.5% from behind the arc. Virginia Tech excelled at moving the ball around, out assisting Gardner-Webb 15-3, with Da’Ja Green and Sheppard each adding five.

Despite the convincing win, Virginia Tech turned over the ball 24 times to Gardner-Webb’s 13.

“Turnovers, obviously,” Sheppard said postgame about what the Hokies needed to clean up before ACC play. “It’s the elephant in the room.”

The Hokies got out to a fast start, jumping out to a 13-2 lead 2:45 into the contest behind six points from Kitley. The Runnin’ Bulldogs struggled shooting early, only nailing four of their 22 shots from the floor.

Gardner-Webb made up some ground early in the second quarter on a 6-0 run, but the Hokies closed out the half on a 13-4 run to put them up 14 going into the break. Kitley notched a double-double in the period and Amoore scored 10 points.

“We didn’t have the energy, effort, or the attitude to dominate,” Tech head coach Kenny Brooks said on their first half effort. “We said some things to them. We weren’t very pleased with their effort.”

Virginia Tech’s halftime adjustments proved successful as the Hokies scored 15 straight out of the break behind seven points from Jones.

“[Brooks] told us to get our stuff together and play hard … to start playing for each other,” Kitley said. “We came in thinking this game would be easy and we could roll over them … we need to have a different mindset.”

Virginia Tech dominated the quarter, outscoring Gardner-Webb 27-4 while holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs to 10.5% from the field. Sheppard owned the play of the quarter when she drained a deep ball from near midcourt at the buzzer.

“Coach tells me all the time, nothing is too far for you to shoot,” Sheppard said.

Cassell Coliseum went dead silent twice during the third quarter due to injuries on both teams. Jhessyka Williams took a nasty fall after getting called for a foul on Jones. Williams walked off the court on her own power. Later in the quarter, Cayla King collided with an opposing player after getting called for a blocking foul.

“They told me it was muscular,” Brooks said. “We probably could’ve put her back in.”

Trainers helped King off before she exited to the locker room.

Up 37 points going into the fourth, Brooks and company put in their reserves before riding out to a 34-point victory. The loss dropped Gardner-Webb to 0-4 on the year.

The Hokies improve to 5-0, finishing up their non-conference schedule perfect. Virginia Tech will begin ACC play on Thursday at home against Pitt.

“I think we can be one of the top teams in the ACC, I really do,” Brooks said.