Takeaways from Tech's 50-point blowout victory over Monmouth on Tuesday night

Hokies coming together as a team, back at home Saturday to take on High Point

December 13, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team returned home late Tuesday night from a two-game road swing that saw the Hokies earn lopsided victories over Chattanooga, 64-44 and Monmouth, 84-34. Head coach Kenny Brooks thought that the Hokies got everything out of the road trip that the program needed.

“We did, and then some,” Brooks said. “It was more than just about the wins. We wanted to come together as a basketball team and we’re doing so. The kids are really enjoying each other and we’re becoming a family. It takes a little bit of time when everyone is trying to jockey for position and trying to get a part in what we’re doing. Now their roles are kind of being defined and they’re starting to execute them.”

Against Monmouth, Regan Magarity had her seventh double-double of the season, with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while frontcourt counterpart Michelle Berry recorded seven points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Hokies outrebounded the Hawks 49-32 and forced 20 turnovers, scoring 19 points off of those Hawks turnovers.

Chanette Hicks continues to make history for the Hokies, moving up to fourth place all time in assists with her eight helpers Tuesday night. She now stands at 396 for her career, just three behind Amy Wetzel’s 399 standing in third place.

Hokies have hot shooting night, record 20 assists on 32 made field goals – Led by Hicks’ eight assists, the Hokies set a season high, recording 20 assists Tuesday night against the Hawks.

“We shared the basketball,” Brooks said. “We had lots of energy on the defensive end and fed off of it, but when we got down to the offensive end, we had a flow and we knocked down some shots. That always helps, but I thought we shared the basketball and had a good rhythm.”

The Hokies knocked down 12 3-pointers for the second time in three games, led by Aisha Sheppard and Taylor Emery, who each had four. Kendyl Brooks made three for the third straight game and Magarity added one.

Tech has now knocked down 10 or more triples five times this season and leads the conference in made 3-point field goals with 101.

“I thought Taylor Emery got us off to a tremendous start, opened some things up and kind of took the lid off the basket for everyone,” Brooks said.

Emery got the Hokies off to a quick start in the first quarter, hitting five of six shots and recording 15 points. The junior went on to score 25, tying her season best from the Drexel game. It was her sixth 20-point game of the season.

Tech shot 49.2 percent from the field.

Tech defense allowing 44.2 points over the past five – Virginia Tech held Monmouth to just 24.1 percent shooting from the field. The Hawks’ leading scorer Kayla Shaw went 2 of 8 for just six points.

“We’ve done a better job of communicating and talking ourselves through situations,” Brooks said. “I’ve always said it, Chanette gets a lot of the credit for her defensive prowess, but Regan Magarity is one of the best defenders I’ve ever had. She’s very smart. She covers for a lot.”

Magarity pulled down nine defensive rebounds on Tuesday and also recorded a block.

As a team, the Hokies tallied 10 blocks, a season high. Aisha Sheppard had three, while Hicks, Brooks and Emery each had two blocks.

Sheppard steps up – Sheppard scored 14 points Tuesday night, on 5 of 9 shooting from the field. She knocked down four three-pointers including one from the corner as time expired in the first half.

Sheppard also filled up the stat sheet in other categories with two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three blocks in 23 minutes off of the bench.

UP NEXT - The Hokies return to Carilion Clinic Court on Saturday for a 6 p.m. matchup with the High Point Panthers.

Montgomery County elementary and middle school children will receive complimentary admission to the game with fliers sent home through Montgomery County schools. Following the conclusion of the game, the women's basketball team student-athletes will be available to sign autographs on the concourse.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @HokiesWBB