Providence College Athletics
Providence College
8-11, 2-6
Virginia Tech
14-5, 5-3
Women's Basketball Drops Fourth-Straight Game
2/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2003
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Providence College women's basketball team was defeated, 80-56, by BIG EAST foe Virginia Tech on Saturday, February 1 in Blacksburg, Va. The defeat marks the longest losing streak of the season for the Friars at four games, as they fall to 8-11 overall and 2-6 in the BIG EAST Conference. Virginia Tech improves to 14-5 overall and 5-3 in the conference.
Virginia Tech took a 35-24 lead into the lockerroom as the Friars connected on just seven of their 25 attempts from the field in the first half, for a shooting percentage of 28.0 percent. Meanwhile, the Hokies netted 13-of-26 attempts for a field-goal percentage of 50.0 percent. Nine of the Friars' 24 points came from the free-throw line (9-10, 90.0 percent). The Hokies were led in the half by Ieva Kulblina and Erin Gibson who scored 12 points and 11 points, respectively. At the 13:18 mark of the first half, Kublina connected on the 1,000th point of her career. Providence was led offensively in the half by senior center Kacee Wheeler (Bakersfield, Calif.), who scored seven points on one-of-three shooting from the field and five-of-six shooting from the free-throw line. Senior guard Brooke Freeburg (Waterford, Pa.) added six points for Providence in the first half.
The Hokies started the second half on a 12-2 scoring run to push their lead to 21 points (47-26) with 15:38 on the clock. Kublina extended Tech's lead to 24 points (50-26) on a three-point basket at the 15:22 mark. Providence then rallied to cut the lead to 14 points (50-36) as they held the Hokies scoreless for the next 3:57 of play. During Virginia Tech's scoring drought, the Friars went on a 10-0 run. The Hokies regained their composure and outscored the Friars, 30-20, to close out the game and earn the 24-point win, 80-56.
Providence's leading scorer, Michal Epstein (Rehovot, Israel), was held to seven points on the night. It marks just the second time all season that Epstein has been held under double figures. Epstein scored just one field goal in the game as five of her seven points came from the free-throw line. Freeburg led the Friars with 16 points, while Wheeler finished the game with 12 points. Sophomore forward Jessica Simmonds (South Orange, N.J.) recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Kublina finished with a game-high 25 points in the win for Virginia Tech. Gibson finished the day with 15 points. Chrystal Starling and Carrie Mason netted 10 points each for the Hokies.
Providence (8-11, 2-6 BIG EAST) will return to action versus the West Virginia University Mountaineers in BIG EAST Conference action on Wednesday, February 5 in Morgantown, W. Va.
