Box Score
BLACKSBURG, VA— A scoring drought of nearly seven minutes was too much to overcome as the Winthrop women's basketball team fell 53-48 at Virginia Tech, Sunday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action.
Leading 37-36 with 9:14 remaining in the game, the Lady Eagles couldn't get a shot to fall and failed to score a single point until Dequesha McClanahan's basket with 2:32 left. By that time Virginia Tech had built a 10-point advantage and was able to hang on for the win.
Winthrop (2-5) is now 0-3 all-time against the Hokies all-time, with all three losses on the road. Virginia Tech ended a three-game losing streak and improved to 5-3.
“We played our hearts out today,” said Winthrop head coach Bud Childers. “If we get a couple of breaks to go our way we were right there. I'm proud of the team. We've grown up a lot in the last five to six days. There are good things ahead for this team and I like what I see. We take a few days off for finals and then get back to it for Sunday's game.”
McClanahan scored four straight points midway through the second half to give Winthrop a 35-32 lead, but Virginia Tech answered right back with four straight points and a 36-35 lead. Dee Gray put Winthrop back on top 37-36 with 9:14 to go, but that's when Winthrop ran into trouble. The Lady Eagles went 0-for-6 from the field and committed six turnovers that contributed to the scoring drought.
The three by McClanahan made it a seven point game and Winthrop cut the lead down to five a couple more times, but couldn't get closer.
After trailing by two points at the break, 19-17, Winthrop continued to battle and opened up a 21-19 lead and built two different three-point advantages in the second half but couldn't stretch it any further. The Hokies led 25-21 after Winthrop scored the first four points of the second half, but Tiffany Charles responded with her first career three-point to make it a one point game. After holding at the defensive end, Winthrop came down and Kaitlyn Rubino scored down low for a 26-25 lead. Charles hit two free throws for a three point lead, but Shanel Harrison answered with the first trey of the game for Virginia Tech.
Both teams battled through the game, which saw 18 lead changes and eight ties.
Neither team shot the ball well in the first half, but Virginia Tech managed to grab a 19-17 lead before the intermission. Winthrop led 15-13 after McClanahan drilled a deep three with 3:04 left, but Virginia Tech caught the defense in transition and got the easy lay-in on the other end to tie the game. Elizabeth Basham's lay-up with 23 seconds left put the Hokies up by four points, but Charles runner in the lane swished through the net with one second on the clock.
Both teams shot 29 percent from the field in the first half as there were eight lead changes and the score was tied three times.
Virginia Tech and Winthrop each shot 35 percent from the floor for the game, but the Hokies turned 22 Winthrop turnovers into 20 points and also had 12 second chance points.
McClanahan, who was in foul trouble for most of the game, scored a game-high 18 points in 22 minutes as she was 6-for-12 from the field and also had two steals. Charles finished with 10 points and six rebounds while Rubino added eight points.
Harrison and Nia Evans each finished with a team-best 11 points for Virginia Tech.
The Lady Eagles will return to action next Sunday, Dec. 12 against Southern Poly State at 1 p.m. as part of a double-header with the men's basketball team, who will play Jacksonville at 3:30 p.m.
