BLACKSBURG — Tuesday night's game was a back-and-forth affair.
But then the Virginia Tech women's basketball team went on a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter.
Game over.
Virginia Tech’s Kayl Petersen (left) drives on Rutgers defender JoJo Lacey.
Carleigh Wenzel, Matilda Ekh and Samyha Suffren scored all the points in that run to help the Hokies beat Rutgers 91-80 at Cassell Coliseum.
"We just wanted to win so bad," Suffren said. "And we did."
Rose Micheaux had 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds for the Hokies (4-1), who beat a team from a major conference for the first time this season.
Virginia Tech’s Rose Micheaux (right) shoots past Rutgers’ Chyna Cornwell in Tuesday’s game. Micheaux had 16 points and 17 rebounds.
"This is a really good character win for us. It shows how much we've been working on our culture," Micheaux said. "(The run) shows the toughness that we have, the grit that we have, the heart, the will to keep competing, to know that when adversity hits all we can do is count on each other.
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"We're so connected and it's a unit win."
Wenzel had 19 points, five steals and three 3-pointers. She sank a 3-pointer to give Tech the lead for good at 72-70 with 5:02 left.
That basket started the 12-0 run, giving Tech an 81-70 lead with 2:49 to go.
"I knew we had it in us," Suffren said. "It just took … courage out of the whole team and just understanding and listening to what Coach (Megan) Duffy has to say.
"Our potential is so high — through the roof. … If we keep playing like that, we're going to keep winning.
"Something just came out of us (in that run). We saw the score and were like, 'OK, we can do this.' It was just grit."
Suffren scored a career-high 16 points. She also had four assists.
"Can I have this?" Suffren said of the box score.
Ekh tallied 13 points.
The Scarlet Knights (4-1) lost to Tech for the second straight year.
Rutgers guard Destiny Adams, who made the All-Big Ten second team last year, entered the game ranked second in the nation in scoring (27 ppg) and first in rebounding (14 ppg).
Adams, who was guarded by Carys Baker on Tuesday, was held to 18 points. Adams, who was whistled for four fouls, was 8 of 10 from the field in 30 minutes.
"Carys balled out," Suffren said. "She did so good. When the game was over, we all screamed and started pushing her."
Adams was held to six defensive rebounds and no offensive rebounds.
"That was the best part, … keeping her off the offensive glass," Duffy said. "She is so good. … We worked two days on really trying to limit some of her touches. I thought Carys Baker did a really nice job trying to make it as difficult as possible, and then we tried to bring some bodies around her."
Kiyomi McMiller had 24 points and four 3-pointers for the Scarlet Knights, who were playing a team from a major conference for the first time this season.
Micheaux helped Tech outrebound Rutgers 41-33.
"Rose was relentless on the glass," Duffy said. "Rose had some timely offensive rebounds."
Rutgers shot 53.6% from the field but committed 20 turnovers.
The visitors shot 66.7% from the field in the fourth quarter, but Tech shot a sizzling 70.6% (12 of 17).
Micheaux made back-to-back baskets to give Tech a 67-65 lead with 6:27 left in the fourth.
Zachara Perkins made one of two free throws and Chyna Cornwell scored to give Rutgers a 68-67 lead.
Wenzel made two free throws to give Tech a 69-68 lead with 5:46 to go.
Virginia Tech’s Matilda Ekh drives to the basket Tuesday. Ekh had 13 points.
Adams scored to give the visitors a 70-69 lead, but Tech answered with the 12-0 run.
Wenzel buried a 3-pointer to begin the run.
Ekh made back-to-back baskets for a 76-70 lead.
Virginia Tech's Matilda Ekh drives to the basket Tuesday. Ekh had 13 points.
Suffren scored for a 78-70 lead. Suffren made a layup, was fouled and sank the free throw for an 81-70 cushion with 2:49 remaining.
"We did a really nice job of just executing a couple things we worked on in practice," Duffy said of the run. "Samyha used her speed to create and get downhill. I thought Matilda came out and hit a couple big shots for us. She got the ball once to Carleigh as well for an open 3.
"These are the goals we're trying to have of sharing the ball, moving the ball, trying to get multiple people in double figures and be balanced."
It was Tech's second game against a Big Ten foe this season. Virginia Tech lost to Iowa 71-52 in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Nov. 10.
Gallery: Richmond Marathon fills streets with runners, fans and spectators
People run in the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday. A capacity 6,200 runners made the 26.2-mile trek.
Patti McGraw cheers for the last few runners near the starting line of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on November 16, 2024, in Richmond, Va.
Corey Beck is reflected in the window of a store on Broad Street during the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday while people run past him.
People run across the starting line of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday.
Allie Baum of Bethesda, Md., crosses the finish line of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday. Baum won the women’s division with a time of 2:46:30.
Runners cast shadows on Broad Street during the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on November 16, 2024, in Richmond, Va.
People run down Broad Street in the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday. Communal support was evident from the start line to the finish line.
People run down Broad Street in the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday.
Ronald Ramdipsignh cheers on runners during the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on November 16, 2024, in Richmond, Va.
Robert Mazzanti of Richmond crosses the finish line of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday. Mazzanti finished the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 12 seconds, which was 4 minutes, 46 seconds ahead of the next marathoner.
Steve Fisher holds a sign that says “where is everyone going?” while watching the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on Saturday.
