Back and Forth Game Goes Hokies’ Way

Brittany Cook led the Hokies in scoring with 19 points in their overtime win against the Big Green on Sunday.
STAFF PHOTO BY BRIAN SEWELL

In its final non-conference match up of the season, the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team outlasted Dartmouth 80-73 in overtime Sunday afternoon in Blacksburg.

Both teams shared the lead numerous times with Dartmouth holding a 30-28 lead heading into halftime.

The Hokies had balanced scoring for much of the first half. Six of the ten Hokies who played in the half scored led by Brittany Cook’s 9 points and Utahya Drye’s 6.

Despite the balance, Tech shot the basketball poorly finishing the half shooting just 33.3% from the field. Dartmouth on the other hand was red hot, going 52.4% from the field and 42.9% from behind the 3-point arc.

In the second half it was a reversal of fortunes for Tech. Despite trailing for almost the entire second period, Tech shot nearly 52% from the field to Dartmouth’s 39.3%.  The Hokies finally pulled even with the Big Green on an Eleanor Brentnall lay up with 2:55 remaining in the contest.

After two Hokie turnovers, Andrea Barbour took over. The freshman guard from Charlottesville stole the ball from Dartmouth's Betsy Williams and tied the game at 58 with a lay up.

Dartmouth’s Koren Schram made two free throws to regain the lead, but then the Hokies’  set up a play for Barbour and she drove the lane finishing with a two point basket with 15.9 seconds remaining.

Tech held with solid defense and Dartmouth was not able to get a shot off before the end of regulation.

The high-scoring overtime saw the Hokies take control and outscore the Big Green 20-13, many of the points coming from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Lindsay Biggs banked home a three-pointer with 3:07 left to put the Hokies up for good.

Brittany Cook led Tech in scoring finishing with 19 points to go along with 5 assists. Utahya Drye scored a career high for the second straight game with her total of 17 and Eleanor Brentall added 11 points and 7 rebounds.

The win improved the Hokies’ record to 13-7 overall, including a 13-2 record versus non-conference opponents. Dartmouth fell to 4-11 overall on the season with the loss.

Tech returns to ACC play Friday when they travel to N.C. State for a 7 p.m. start.