Hokies Narrowly Lose See-Saw Fight with No. 22 North Carolina, 66-63

Virginia Tech women's basketball falls just short in overtime thriller against ranked Tar Heels

Feb. 27, 2026 at 7:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Virginia Tech Hokies women's basketball team narrowly lost a back-and-forth overtime battle against the 22nd-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, 66-63. The Hokies led for much of the game but couldn't hold on in the extra period, as North Carolina made key plays down the stretch to pull out the victory.

Why it matters

This was an important ACC matchup between two teams jockeying for position in the conference standings. The loss drops Virginia Tech to 20-8 overall and 10-6 in the ACC, while North Carolina improves to 22-6 and 11-4. The Hokies had a chance to pick up a marquee win over a ranked opponent, but ultimately came up just short.

The details

The game was tightly contested throughout, with neither team able to pull away. Virginia Tech led 28-21 at halftime after holding North Carolina to just 9.1% shooting in the second quarter. But the Tar Heels regrouped and battled back in the second half, outscoring the Hokies 15-13 in the fourth quarter to force overtime. In the extra period, North Carolina made just enough plays to eke out the 66-63 victory, despite Virginia Tech's efforts to tie it late.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • Virginia Tech and North Carolina were tied 57-57 at the end of regulation, sending the game to overtime.

The players

Megan Duffy

Head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies women's basketball team.

Courtney Banghart

Head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team.

Samyha Suffren

Guard for the Virginia Tech Hokies who scored a key layup late in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Nyla Harris

Forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels who finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds.

Carleigh Wenzel

Redshirt senior guard for the Virginia Tech Hokies who struggled with her shooting, going 3-for-16 from the field.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Hokies will look to bounce back in their next game against Georgia Tech on February 22nd.

The takeaway

This was a tough loss for Virginia Tech, but they remain in good position in the ACC standings. The Hokies showed they can compete with a ranked opponent, and will look to use this experience to fuel them down the stretch as they push for a strong finish to the regular season.