The Ladies play Syracuse tonight at 8PM in the Carrier Dome. The game is on ACCN. Syracuse is 9-10, 3-5 in the ACC. They have losses to #3 Oregon, #5 Stanford and WVA(receiving votes) out of conference. In conference, they have losses at #5 Louisville, at Miami, and at Wake Forest; and home to Georgia Tech, Duke. They have beaten #14 Florida State and Notre Dame at home and Pittsbugh on the road.
The two teams are fairly well matched in height. Syracuse has 7 players that average 20+ minutes per game. Their tallest player starts but only plays about 20 minutes per game. Kiara Lewis has 17 straight double digit scoring games. Emily Engstler has 7 double-doubles this season. Those two will be on the court most of the game along with Gabrielle Cooper. Several players are averaging nearly 3 fouls per game.
As I noted above, they seem to foul frequently; opponents have shot 27 more free throws than Syracuse in ACC play. They have been out-rebounded by about 2.5 rebounds per game. They average about 12 assists and 16 turnovers per game.
Syracuse has not been a good 3 point team in ACC play, averaging only 27% from three. They shoot 37% overall. They have allowed 42% overall and 37% from three. Only Lewis and Engstler average scoring in double digits in ACC play. Their top five scorers will all attempt 2 to 5 three pt shots per game; but only Engstler and Hyman average above 30%.
Stats for those who like to look at them:
It seems like I always feel VT should be able to win these games when I do the write-up; but I have been wrong more than I like, especially for the men. I think this is a winnable road game for the ladies; but they will have to play a complete game. They can't take five minutes off each half where they look like they forgot how to play the game and start throwing the ball away.
Go Hokies!
Comments
Great writeup. Thanks.
Watching the game on the ACC network. First time watching the women's team, here's hoping I'm not bad luck.
Up 36-27 at the half. They had their five minutes of sloppy play, but got away with it. 13 turnovers and 10 fouls. Oboe-fegue has 3 and Kitley has 2. Rivers also has 3. Fouls on our forwards may be an issue in the second half.
Not able to watch the game GOACC, but our local RSN has the Clemson women's game on and the announcers were very positive about women Hokies and coach Brooks this year.
56-45 after 3 quarters. No TO in the third qtr.
Man this team seems to be just getting in their own heads right now.
Control the game for 3 qtrs, then completely fall apart in the 4th. Happens too many times.
What the hell. Stepped away to clean up and get kids stuff ready for tomorrow check ESPN and they lost!!
They become way too complacent when they're winning in the 4th. That's gonna make you lose alot of games😐😐
This team can't finish. Just brutal to watch them collapse time and again.
Kenny ain't the right coach for acc play
This was a pretty brutal loss for Tech. What will be interesting is how they respond moving forward. This team is still in really good shape to reach the NCAA Tournament this season. In past years, however, these types of losses have spiraled and sent the team in a downward trajectory the rest of the year. I'll be interested to see if that's the case again.
I think it's time for the coach to tell Kitley she is the star. Start taking the shots; she passed up too many chances in the fourth quarter this game. And she needs to develop a move to the basket from the foul line.