Box Score      NCCU at Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – After leading by six points in the first 10-minutes of competition and snapping a 15- point lead to come within eight points in the second-half of play, North Carolina Central University suffered a 52-70 loss to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., on Sunday Dec. 11.

In the first Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season, NCCU junior Chasidy Williams dropped 12 points, as freshman Kabrina Truesdale finished with 10 points.  Williams led the maroon and gray in three additional categories, pulling down six rebounds, circulating four assists and stealing two Virginia Tech possessions in the loss.

The mighty maroon held the lead for more than 13 minutes of play, with the Hokies trailing by as much as six points for a score of 19-13 at the 9:44 mark and again at the 8:34 mark for a score of 21-15.

The Hokies slowly carved away at the lead at the 7:54 mark.  VT’s Latorri Hines-Allen, who finished with 14 points as the second leading scorer, paced the ACC hosts on a 14-5 run for a 10-point margin lead by the end of the first half.

As both squads headed to the locker room for the halftime intermission, VT led NCCU 36-26.  Junior Jasmine Alston, who was 3-of-4 from the long range, led the mighty maroon with nine points, as Truesdale followed with five points.

NCCU returned to the hardwood at a glacial offensive pace. VT extended its lead to 15 points, until a jumper by Truesdale brought the Lady Eagles within 13 points for a score of 43-30.  Williams netted a jumper off the fast break and dropped another basket from the three-point arc to bring the visiting Eagles within 10 points.  For their final closest margin lead of eight points, sophomore Tiffany Gary sunk a jumper in the paint for a score of 47-39.

At the 10:40 mark, Larryqua Hall hit a three pointer to pace the Hokies on a final 23-13 run to seal the 70-52 home win and snap a five-game losing streak.

On the night, the Lady Eagles were 56 percent from the field on 20-of-36 shooting, 5-of-9 from behind the arc, and 58 percent from the charity stripe, 7-of-12. 

While Hines-Allen finished with a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Virginia Tech’s Alyssa Fenyn obtained a game-high 15 points and six steals.  Porschia Hadley collected nine points, as Aerial Wilson and Monet Tellier lobbed five assists apiece.  The Hokies were 47 percent from the field on 29-of-68, 4-of-21 from the long range, and 42 percent from the free-throw line, 8-of-19.

On the season, the maroon and gray drops to 1-8 and 0-3 in the series, Virginia Tech advances to 3-6.

The Lady Eagles return to NCCU for a 6:00 p.m., hardwood matchup against Coker Wednesday, Dec. 14 in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium, Wednesday’s contest marks the first meeting between the two teams. 

For more information on Lady Eagles basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.