Jan. 3, 2001
By KIA SHANT’E BREAUX
Associated Press Writer
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Ruth Riley scored a season-high 27 points and had eight rebounds as No. 3 Notre Dame beat Virginia Tech 75-64 Wednesday night in a Big East matchup.
Niele Ivey added 18 points and seven assists as Notre Dame (13-0, 2-0 Big East) extended the best start in school history and dealt the Hokies their first home loss of the season.
The loss ended a three-game winning streak for Virginia Tech.
Notre Dame led 39-29 at halftime and opened the second half with an 11-5 run for a 50-34 lead with 17:07 left.
The Hokies countered with an 11-2 run, including a 3-pointer by Lisa Guarneri, a bucket by Amy Wetzel, and back-to-back 3s by Ieva Kublina, that pulled trimmed their deficit to 52-45.
Ivey hit two free throws to give Notre Dame a 54-45 lead, but Virginia Tech went on a 7-0 run, capped by a jumper by Nicole Jones, that lifted the Hokies within two points, 54-52.
The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes before Notre Dame closed the game with a 13-5 run.
Kelley Siemon had 10 points and eight rebounds, and Ericka Haney added 11 points for the Irish, the highest-ranked team to play in Blacksburg.
Tere Williams scored 17 points, Kublina had 11 and Wetzel 10 for Virginia Tech (9-2, 0-2 Big East).
The teams were tied at 18 with 12:24 left in the first half before Notre Dame went on a 21-11 run and took its largest lead of the first half, 39-29.