No. 25 Virginia Tech thrashes Coppin State, 85-32

By Jack Brizendine

Staff Writer

November 17, 2021

BLACKSBURG — Georgia Amoore was knocked to the ground after a big body blow from Coppin State’s Aliyah Lawson and couldn’t help but smile as her teammates helped her up.

The drawn charge gave Virginia Tech the ball back with a 30 point lead and it was one of the 14 turnovers the team forced on the night.

It was just one of those nights for the Hokies. It seemed as though nothing could go wrong for Virginia Tech (4-0) as it steamrolled Coppin State (2-2) 85-32.

The Hokies jumped out to a quick 11-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game, courtesy of two threes from Aisha Sheppard; the latter pushing her over the 1,500 point milestone in her career at Virginia Tech.

“It feels awesome to be in the history books like that,” Sheppard said. “None of this would be possible without my teammates. They let me do what I do, so that’s awesome.”

Sheppard finished the game with four threes, contributing to the Hokies 13-trey performance on the night.

Despite the NCAA moving the three-point line back a little over a foot for this season, Virginia Tech hasn’t missed a beat.

“We were already shooting from back there honestly,” Sheppard said. “We’re pure shooters.”

The Hokies entered the game with the second-most threes made in the country, netting 37 triples in their first three contests.

“It’s never been an issue with us,” Kenny Brooks said. “Our kids shoot it from deep. As a matter of fact, we went and practiced at the [Washington] Wizards and Mystics facility, and they were shooting it from the NBA line and they didn’t even know it. They just see the line and that’s where they shoot it from.”

While Virginia Tech was making it rain on offense, the Hokies were suffocating on the other end, holding Coppin State to only 11 field goals in the game.

“I think it was just mainly about us and our focus,” Sheppard said of the Hokies' defensive performance. “Of course we have schemes and things like that, but it doesn’t work out if our team isn’t as focused as we were today.”

Virginia Tech’s stellar defense helped bolster its offense, as Coppin State turnovers turned into fastbreak opportunities for the Hokies.

“We want to get out on the fastbreak,” Brooks said. “When we get a turnover and we get out and go, it’s hard to match up with us. It’s hard to match up with our shooters.”

Tech will have a chance to carry some momentum from the blowout win against Campbell (2-1, 0-0) as the Hokies host the Camels on Saturday at 5 p.m.