In a sold-out Reynolds Coliseum on ESPN’s “Big Monday,” No. 11 Virginia Tech powered past No. 22 NC State, 73-61, for its first series win in Raleigh. Georgia Amoore (27 points) and Elizabeth Kitley (25) combined for 52 to lead the way for the Hokies.
The Wolfpack (16-7, 6-6 ACC) struggled to contain the duo for different stretches of the game. While Amoore was quiet in the first half with just seven points, she exploded with 20 in the second. She set a new career high, surpassing the 24 points she had in her triple-double vs. Nebraska in November.
Kitley, meanwhile, picked her moments. She was 9-of-15; five of her baskets were assisted by Amoore. She found success at the free throw line, hitting on seven of her eight attempts.
“For us to come away with this win is tremendous,” Tech head coach Kenny Brooks said afterwards. “Elizabeth [Kitley] was awesome. We got her the basketball where she needed it, when she needed it. She capitalized on them. And I thought Georgia Amoore was terrific. Really just leading us and controlling the basketball game and hitting big shot after big shot.”
Brooks said he texted Amoore on Sunday night and told her that she would be the best player on the floor in Monday’s contest. With Kitley injured last March in the ACC tournament vs. North Carolina, he told her a similar thing, and she had a game-high 22.
Amoore fed off the NC State crowd clad in pink t-shirts in honor of the 18th annual Play4Kay game. In a place the Hokies (19-4, 9-4 ACC) had never won, she excelled. She dictated the flow of the game, and after she hit a few mid-range jumpers, the Wolfpack started to edge out on her more. That opened up some windows down low for her to find Kitley, and she finished with six assists.
“She’s getting better and better,” Brooks said of Amoore. “She’s believing that she’s that type of player. So nothing really surprises me anymore. I expect her to be this good. And when she’s this good, we’re terrific and we’re hard to beat.”
After Thursday’s slow start vs. Syracuse, the Hokies acknowledged the need to explode out of the gate. Kitley and Cayla King explained that as a group, they often settle into the game slowly and feel out the other team, something Brooks was trying to change. And against NC State, they did exactly what Brooks wanted – they were the aggressor.
After the first four minutes, Virginia Tech led 13-2 behind 4-of-8 shooting. The Wolfpack made its runs, but Tech answered the bell each time. Leading by nine with five minutes to play in the third quarter, VT allowed a 7-0 run. But it stayed composed and didn’t panic; instead, it replied with an 8-0 run of its own to lead by 10 entering the final period.
“It’s a game of runs,” Amoore said, “and we knew that that was their run. Just trusting our offense and our looks that we were getting, because we were getting really good looks. It wasn’t anything to worry about because we knew that was their little punch at us, so just staying composed.”
The Wolfpack struggled to slow down a patient Tech offense that shot 49% from the field and 47% from deep. Kitley and Amoore scored 31 of the team’s 34 points in the second half and were 20-of-36 for the game.
On the other end, the Hokies’ defense was impressive. Though NC State missed some good looks, Virginia Tech allowed just six assists and forced nine miscues. Only Diamond Johnson (16 points) and Saniya Rivers (10) scored in double figures.
After King dealt with some foul trouble, Brooks opted to go zone. The 2-3 worked, particularly in the fourth quarter when NC State was 5-of-14. And with Amoore and Kitley scoring in bunches, NC State couldn’t keep up.
“A very frustrating night,” Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore said. “I’ve got to do a better job. We’ve had, to be honest with you, two poor practices leading up to this, and we played kind of like we practiced.”
In its third appearance on national television in the regular season, Virginia Tech made its mark. If the growth made by Brooks and the program wasn’t obvious before, it was in the spotlight on “Big Monday.” And the Hokies played like they belonged.
“What Coach Brooks has done with this team is just incredible,” Kitley said. “I think the growth that we’ve made is super admirable and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
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Great article! Great effort by a great team! Fun to watch.
Exactly my words last night: “Fun to watch.”
I am now ‘officially’ a true believer ! The Hokies just need more points from the ‘remaining’ three starters ! Please Beat Florida State !
This is a great road win and the best the team has looked in a while. Hopefully they are peaking at the right time! Well done, ladies!
Anyone know what the story is on the Ashley Owusu’s playing time? I know she broke her hand and just got back a couple of weeks ago. Before her transfer she won all sorts of honors at Maryland and was projected to have a big role on this team. Any info out there?
It’s amazing how the game changes for VT when the refs call fouls when they’re fouls – and call violations when they’re violations. This is a game that Kitley didn’t come out with bruises on her body and scratches on her arms.
A great win against a very good ‘pack team.
I did see her get an elbow in the sternum on a rebound, I think she hit the ice bath after the game. At least when 3 NC st players were draped over her a foul was called.
GO HOKIES WIN THE 3 GAME HOMESTAND COMING UP.
Oh good not just me. The WBB games can be so overly rough at times and when they get to play BB and not rugby we look darn good. Could calls have been related to it being a prime time broadcast? Just wondering
Got to give Coach Brooks his Dues, he has VT heading in the right direction. This program is looking great.. GO HOKIES
Kitley and Amoore fed off of each other. the seem to know where the otheris going to be. Kitley gets jammed, rurns her back to the basket and voila, she passes it to Amoore who scores a 3 pter. Likwise, Amoore know how to find Ktley. Wouldn’t it be great if Kitlyy -and Kayla King – came back for another season to finish out their careers w/Amoore? Kenny Brooks’ kids love playing basketball and w/each other. They are a joy yo watch. Two games is a lot to make up w/Duke and while the scehdulle favors Duke w/4 of thier final 6 @ home, in addtion to Tech, which is a road game, they also have to play Miami and UNC which were tied w/us going into tonight’s game. A home court win for us, provided we win out would narrow t he gap to 1 game and we’d need help. In any case, ACC women’s basketball is becoming ultra-competitive like ACC men’s. I like the future of our program and in the meantime, I’m enjoying it now. Btw, who doesn’t believe Amoore isn’t at worst, the 2nd best PG in the conference?
Very solid game. Thanks for the very quick turnaround on the article. VT destroyed them on the boards and had ball security been a little bit better the MOV would have likely been higher.
Good summary of game David, you are doing better than most “beat writers” with instant analysis of the Women’s games. Were you in attendance tonight?
+1….and I’m still trying to figure out why WBB’s schedule is not on the TSL homepage….at least until the end of the season.
I agree!!!
Yes, I just got back from Raleigh a few minutes ago.