SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team delivered a commanding 77-57 victory over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on Thursday night. The Hokies seized control with a strong first quarter and a decisive 27-point third quarter, never trailing after the opening minutes. Carleigh Wenzel led Virginia Tech with 18 points, while Samyha Suffren added 16. The Hokies shot efficiently from deep, making 6 of 9 three-pointers, and forced 14 turnovers. Izoje Uche paced Syracuse with 14 points and five blocks. Virginia Tech improved to 12-5 overall, while the Orange fell to 13-3. An announced crowd of 2,318 attended the Atlantic Coast Conference game.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team delivered a commanding defensive performance to hand Syracuse its most lopsided loss of the season, 77-57, in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup Thursday night at the Carrier Dome. Facing a Syracuse team that entered with a 13-2 record and a favored projection, the Hokies (12-5, 1-2 ACC) snapped a two-game conference skid with a wire-to-wire victory fueled by efficient offense and disruptive defense. The Orange (13-3, 2-1) struggled to find any consistent rhythm against Virginia Tech’s pressure, resulting in a season-low scoring output. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the second quarter, where Virginia Tech transformed a competitive contest into a commanding lead. Leading 22-15 after one quarter, the Hokies locked down Syracuse, holding the Orange to a mere eight points in the period. Virginia Tech’s defense forced eight Syracuse turnovers in the quarter, converting those into eight points. The Hokies closed the half on a 13-2 run over the final 4:56, capped by a transition jumper from Keira Scott at the buzzer for Syracuse, which only slightly trimmed what had been a 20-point deficit. The half ended with Virginia Tech ahead 35-23, having held Syracuse to 30% shooting from the field. Virginia Tech effectively put the game out of reach with a dominant third-quarter offensive display. The Hokies scored 27 points in the period, shooting 10 of 16 from the field. A 10-2 run midway through the quarter, featuring layups from Samyha Suffren and Carys Baker, extended the lead to 51-29, and the Hokies carried a 62-41 advantage into the final frame. Syracuse never cut the deficit below 16 points in the fourth quarter. Carleigh Wenzel led a balanced Virginia Tech attack with 18 points, including four three-pointers. Mackenzie Nelson orchestrated the offense with 13 points and five assists, while Suffren provided a major spark off the bench with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Carys Baker added 13 points and Kilah Freelon finished with 12 points, two blocks and two steals. Syracuse was led by Izoje Uche, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and five blocks. Laila Phelia added 12 points, but the Orange’s backcourt was stifled, combining for more turnovers than assists. As a team, Syracuse shot just 35% from the field and a dismal 25% from three-point range. Despite blocking 10 Virginia Tech shots, the Orange were outscored 32-26 in the paint and allowed the Hokies to shoot 66.7% from beyond the arc. Virginia Tech’s offensive execution was precise, committing only nine turnovers while assisting on nine of their 29 field goals. They scored 14 points off Syracuse’s 14 turnovers and outshot the Orange from the free-throw line, making 13 of 16 attempts. The victory marked a significant rebound for Virginia Tech following consecutive ACC losses to Miami and Louisville. For Syracuse, it was a stark setback after opening conference play with wins over Florida State and Wake Forest. An announced crowd of 2,318 at the Carrier Dome watched as the Hokies controlled the tempo throughout, leading for over 39 minutes of the contest. Virginia Tech will look to build on the win when it hosts Boston College on Sunday. Syracuse will aim to regroup on the road at Virginia, also on Sunday.

Preview: Virginia Tech at Syracuse Women’s Basketball SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — A surging Syracuse squad hosts a Virginia Tech team looking to rebound in an Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at the Carrier Dome. The Orange (13-2, 2-1 ACC) have won eight of their last nine, including a 73-58 road victory at Wake Forest last Sunday. Forward Izoje Uche has been dominant, averaging 18.7 points and 11.7 rebounds over her last three games. She posted an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Demon Deacons. Virginia Tech (11-5, 0-2) seeks its first conference win after opening ACC play with two losses. The Hokies fell 85-60 at Louisville on Sunday. Guard Carys Baker leads the team, averaging 16.2 points per game. She scored 23 points in a win over Radford on Dec. 21 and 21 at Florida State on Dec. 18, but was held to eight points in a Jan. 1 overtime loss to Miami. Syracuse’s defense, anchored by Uche’s rim protection, will challenge a Hokies offense that managed just 60 points against Louisville. The Orange allow an average of 58.7 points per game. The Orange’s two losses came against ranked opponents Duke and Michigan. Virginia Tech’s conference losses are to Louisville and Miami. This begins a critical stretch for both teams. Syracuse visits Virginia on Sunday. Virginia Tech hosts Boston College on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.