Preview: North Carolina at Virginia Tech in Pivotal ACC Women’s Basketball Clash BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A critical Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Thursday when North Carolina visits Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum. Both teams enter the Feb. 19 contest on the heels of strong seasons, with the Tar Heels at 21-6 and the Hokies at 20-7. The game features a contrast in momentum, as North Carolina looks to rebound from a narrow 72-68 road loss to rival Duke last Sunday, which snapped a five-game winning streak. Virginia Tech arrives with confidence after securing a quality 68-58 road victory at California the same day. The matchup in the paint will be pivotal, headlined by two of the conference’s standout forwards. North Carolina’s Ciera Toomey is coming off a 14-point, six-rebound performance against Duke and has been a consistent defensive presence, recording multiple blocks in five of her last seven games. For Virginia Tech, Kilah Freelon is playing at an elite level, averaging a double-double (12.0 points, 10.0 rebounds) over her last two outings, including a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double at California. The Tar Heels’ recent success has been built on defense, holding opponents to 56 points or fewer in four of their last seven wins. However, they face a Hokies squad that has shown offensive firepower, scoring 79 points or more in three of its last five victories. Virginia Tech will aim to protect its home court, where it is 11-2 this season. North Carolina, which is 8-3 in true road games, seeks a resume-building win to solidify its ACC standing. The result could prove crucial for seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff and will be broadcast on ACC Network.