BLACKSBURG -- Utahya Drye likes to run.

When Virginia Tech grabs defensive rebounds, that's what Drye gets to do.

So when the Hokies gobbled up rebounds under the Longwood basket in the first half of Friday's season opener, Drye took off for nine points in just 15 minutes as Tech took a 15-point halftime lead en route to a 77-55 win.

Drye and freshman Alyssa Fenyn led the Hokies with 15 points each. Sophomore Shanel Harrison had 13 points and freshman Abby Redick had 10 points and six boards.

Point guard Nikki Davis ignited the Hokies with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Only 6-foot-4 center Brittany Gordon had more rebounds (8) than the 5-7 Davis, which was good news for Drye and coach Beth Dunkenberger.

"I've been on the warpath lately because we've struggled to understand the importance of rebounding," Dunkenberger said. "I don't know if they were just tired of me harping on it, or whether they see the results of it."

Nine minutes into the first half, though, the Hokies were down 15-13. At the media timeout, Dunkenberger called out her Hokies.

"We had to turn it up on defense," Drye said. "One of the 'little things' they harp on is talking to each other. We had to get more hands on the ball, box out better."

Davis drove the lane and scored with 10:01 left in the half to tie the score at 15. Fenyn added four straight points and two rebounds and a 21-4 run was on. The Hokies gave up just one field goal in the final 11:22 of the half to lead 34-19 at halftime.

Drye had five points and a steal in the run, but contributions came from everywhere as Tech's defense allowed just one field goal and eight different Hokies scored.

"It was a matter of getting in rhythm, we got our offense going, we were getting the ball out in transition," Fenyn said.

Davis credited "a bunch of girls being aggressive on the offensive end of the court, not taking bad shots but playing within our offense."

The Lancers recovered some of their gumption with a 6-0 run to start the second half, but could not mount a comeback.

The Hokies outrebounded Longwood 53-32, but Dunkenberger was quick to agree when asked if she thought the Hokies needed some polish.

"Oh my goodness, do I ever," Dunkenberger said. "We shot 50 percent from the foul line, 40 percent from the field, we gave up 36 points in the second half.

"We need to stay focused longer and get on the same page sooner."

Note

Virginia Tech signed three forwards and two guards that Dunkenberger said will "bring an abundance of speed and athleticism" to the Hokies next season.

Monet Tellier, a 5-foot-11 guard from Charlotte, N.C., is rated the No. 54 prospect in the country by ESPNU.

Latorri Hines-Allen, a 6-1 forward from Montclair, N.J., is rehabbing from a knee injury, but the Hokies expect her to be ready to play next fall. She is ranked No. 88 on ESPNU's scale.

Nia Evans, a 6-0 forward from Decatur, Ga., led Redan High School to a 27-0 season and a Georgia 5A state championship as a junior and is ranked No. 97.

Dunkenberger called 6-3 forward Brittni Montgomery, from Fort Pierce, Fla., "a shot-blocking machine."

Guard Kyani White, 5-6, was an all-state pick for Stonewall Jackson High School in Bristow, Va., last season.

LONGWOOD (0-1)

Short 3-5 2-2 8, Coward 4-9 0-0 11, Fernandes 4-11 4-6 12, Smith 3-5 0-0 7, Tobeck 1-4 0-0 2, Garrison 3-10 0-0 7, Billups 3-5 1-1 7, Martin 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-6 1-2 1. Totals 21-55 5-19 55.

VIRGINIA TECH (1-0)

Wilson 2-7 1-2 6, Redick 4-7 0-2 10, Logan 0-3 0-0 0, Biggs 1-6 0-0 2, Davis 5-8 0-0 11, Drye 6-13 3-5 15, Gordon 1-4 2-3 4, Ayers 0-0 0-0 0, Harrison 6-10 1-3 13, Grey 0-2 0-0 0, Hadley 0-3 1-2 1, Fenyn 6-14 3-5 15. Totals 31-77 11-22 77.

Halftime--Virginia Tech 34-19. 3-Point Goals--Longwood 5-19 (Coward 3-7, Fernandes 0-3, Smith 1-1, Garrison 1-4, Smith 0-4), Virginia Tech 4-10 (Wilson 1-1, Redick 2-3, Logan 0-1, Biggs 0-2, Davis 1-2, Fenyn 0-1). Rebounds--Longwood 32 (Garrison 7), Virginia Tech 53 (Gordon 8). Assists--Longwood 7 (Fernandes 3), Virginia Tech 14 (Davis 6). Fouls--Longwood 19, Virginia Tech 15. A--2,125.