Rose Micheaux Puts on a Masterclass in Hokies’ 87-69 Win Over Elon

Luke Boran

Staff Writer

November 23, 2024

BLACKSBURG –  Virginia Tech center Rose Micheaux tallied just the second triple-double in program history, leading the Hokies to a dominant 87-69 win against Elon on Saturday afternoon inside Cassell Coliseum.

Although the Blacksburg temperature dropped, Micheaux’s white-hot streak of games was unaffected. The second-year transfer from Minnesota put up 19 points, 14 boards and a career-high 10 assists. She took advantage of the size mismatch early and often, cruising to her third-straight double-double halfway through the third quarter. Even with a media timeout to review the 10th assist, her teammates and the Hokie faithful made sure to solidify the moment. 

“It just shows what hard work and dedication can get you,” Micheaux said. “I wouldn’t have gotten a triple-double if it weren’t for my teammates, and them hitting shots. … I kicked it out and I knew Matilda [Ekh] was going to hit it.”

The Hokies (5-1) did not beat the Phoenix (3-2) with Micheaux’s efforts alone, and Elon guard Jayda Angel made sure of that. Angel had a game-leading 20 points, including a step-back long bomb to beat the buzzer in the first quarter. Ekh stepped up with a vintage performance fans saw in the previous season to help overcome Angel’s offensive barrage.

Ekh struggled from beyond the arc to start the year, only hitting five threes in total and shooting at a 25% clip. However, she looked much more confident in her long ball. The Swede cashed in 50% of her treys, hitting four, and included a triple that secured Micheaux’s triple-double on the left wing. 

“Both my teammates and my coaches have encouraged me to keep shooting,” Ekh explained. “I have not been shooting great at the beginning of the season, but that’s how it is sometimes… all you can do is keep shooting it.”

Turnovers reared their head again and so did a slow start for VT. The Phoenix hit a huge three to grab momentum and cut the lead to five late in the second quarter. However, Tech head coach Megan Duffy called a timeout, calming her squad down. They responded in kind, going on a 6-0 run to end the half.

“I just thought we were being tentative, and that led to a few turnovers,” Duffy said. “[We] just needed a bit of momentum. I thought Mackie [Nelson] did a great job with that.”

Nelson continued to be a spark plug off the bench, hustling to every loose ball and making sharing the ball a priority. The redshirt freshman put on a clinic, going 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. She did not have her usual stat sheet stuffing game with only one board and assist, but her presence was massive, drawing multiple charges and jumpstarting Tech’s energy.

Micheaux was not the only Hokie to keep a streak alive either; floor general Carleigh Wenzel continued her double-digit scoring ways, tallying 11 for the afternoon. Her efficiency struggles from the UNC Wilmington game persisted as well though. The sophomore hit on just two of her 10 shots, but she never stopped being aggressive, consistently getting to the foul line. 

The maroon and orange have seemed to embrace their roles with Duffy, and rarely play outside of themselves. Forward Carys Baker continued to produce with seven points and five boards, and freshman Kayl Petersen looks increasingly more comfortable, not shying away from taking open looks. 

“Buying into one another, being a player-led team, it really helps,” Micheaux explained. “It really makes people want to play for each other.”

Elsewhere in the Hokie backcourt, Utah transfer Lani White had issues hitting shots, going 2-of-7 from the field, but she drained her only three-point attempt and corralled four rebounds. 

Samyha Suffren had a quiet game but made the most of her opportunities. The fleet-footed guard converted both of her shots and free throws, totaling six points in the contest before fouling out. 

Coming up for VT is the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off, where they will match up against Davidson on Black Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET and either Michigan or Belmont the following day.

If the Hokies keep up their momentum, they could end up making some noise in the ACC with their newfound identity of playing through and with each other. 

“When we all buy into what we’re trying to execute, we’re going to be unstoppable,” Micheaux claimed. “There’s still going to be points that we have to work on and get better at, but I’m just really happy and excited about the point that we’re at right now.”