After a frustrating loss to No. 16 Duke on Thursday, one that left Tech head coach Kenny Brooks all but speechless after, No. 12 Virginia Tech (17-4, 7-4 ACC) bounced back with a win and a Commonwealth Clash sweep over Virginia (14-8, 3-8 ACC) on Sunday evening on the road at John Paul Jones Arena, 72-60.
With the victory, Tech remained in fifth place in the conference standings as it trails Duke (8-2), No. 7 Notre Dame (8-2), No. 24 Florida State (8-3) and No. 15 North Carolina (7-3) for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament.
For the second week in a row, Elizabeth Kitley made program history. Last Sunday, she set the record for field goals made in a career in a victory over Wake Forest. Most recently, she recorded the most points in ACC play in program history as she scored 16 via 8-of-11 shooting.
While Kitley led the scoring in her last record setting performance, Kayana Traylor was key on Sunday with 25 points as she recorded her 14th consecutive start in place of Ashley Owusu, who’s working her way back from a broken pinkie.
At the end of the first quarter, Traylor banked in a heave from half-court as time expired. It gave the Hokies a 13-point lead after shooting 10-of-15 (66.7%) from the floor and 3-of-4 from deep, 26-13.
But in the second, the Cavaliers flipped the script as Tech went from a 66.7% clip in the first to 38.5% (5-of-13). Meanwhile, UVa got hot and improved on its 5-of-14 line to start the game to an 8-of-17 (47.1%) rate into the half. Tech’s 13-point lead dwindled to just six, 37-31.
Coming out of the half, however, both teams struggled to put the basketball through the hoop. Virginia was just 4-of-14 (28.6%) while Virginia Tech shot 5-of-13 (38.5%) for the second straight quarter. Kitley, though, recorded her record-setting basket with a layup from under the hoop. The Hokies took a seven-point lead into the final period, 48-41.
In the fourth, Tech started to pull away again as it increased its lead to as many as 12 two minutes into the quarter thanks to two free throws from Owusu and a 3-pointer from Traylor.
But Virginia closed the gap to four points with a 10-2 run at the 5:58 mark. Yet, Tech once again pulled away to seal the win with a 17-10 run the rest of the way. It’s the first time in program history that Virginia Tech has swept Virginia in back-to-back seasons.
The Hokies host Syracuse (14-8, 5-6 ACC) on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum, which can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Box score: Link
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There was supposed to be an increased emphasis on “freedom of movement” a couple of years ago. Coaches like Bennett complained that they were taking “physicality” out of the game (i.e. his players couldn’t shove, hold, hinder the opposition as they attempt to run their offense). I guess the initiative did not succeed and is no longer a focus since both the men’s and women’s game have gotten more physical.
opposing teams will continue to maul Kitley as long as the refs continue to ignore it – so Kitley needs to get tough and fight back.
That’s the thing: Liz is doing her best.
She sure is…she is tall and thin and has great ball skills. The refs let the beefy forward and center opponents slap and hack the crap out her so what can she do but what she does. Returning fire will just get her fouled out and hurt the team.
Unfortunately, I think equity has found its way into women’s BB officiating. Surely those I’ve watched call many of the games this year don’t have their jobs based upon merit or abilities. It’s truly shameful how they allow opposing players maul Liz. It does nothing for he game of women’s BB.
I Love this team. I’m peturbed about the Duke game, but they righted the ship in ‘hooville. Loved the tres from Traylor at the end of the first, what was that about 10 ft our from half court. I think Amoore did one like that last year.
GO HOKIES!!!