Liz Kitley(Northwest Guilford HS) among VA Tech Hokie leaders with 19 pts./10 rebounds, in Virginia Tech’s 82-60 victory against Clemson
Hokies score largest margin of victory in their ACC Tournament history
from www.hokiesports.com
GREENSBORO, NC – Aisha Sheppard scored 20 points to help lead the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team over the Clemson Lady Tigers 82-60 at Greensboro Coliseum Complex Thursday.
Sheppard added five rebounds and four assists to her 20 point game to lead the Hokies (22-8). Elizabeth Kitley helped out with a double double of 19 points and 10 rebounds and Georgia Amoore chipped in with 15 points and five assists.
Virginia Tech out-rebounded Clemson 34-23 in Thursday’s game, led by Kitley’s 10 boards.
Virginia Tech’s defense held Clemson to only 33.9 percent shooting from the field, including 0 percent from beyond the arc. The Lady Tigers did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with nine offensive rebounds and managed six second chance points while Virginia Tech cleared 29 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
Virginia Tech started out the scoring by going on a 6-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Kitley, to take an early lead with 7:48 left in the first quarter. The Hokies then added four points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 25-15 advantage. Virginia Tech relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 25 points.
Virginia Tech built that first quarter lead to 30-19 before going on a 9-0 run starting at the 7:26 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Azana Baines, to increase its lead to 39-19. The Hokies proceeded to tack on three points to that lead and enjoyed a 53-30 advantage heading into halftime. Virginia Tech dominated in the paint, scoring 16 of its 28 points close to the basket.
Virginia Tech wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Sheppard, to expand its lead further to 60-30 with 8:17 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lady Tigers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Hokies still entered the fourth quarter with a 69-50 edge. Virginia Tech took advantage of three Clemson turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of takeaways.
Virginia Tech started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Kayana Traylor’s three, to grow the lead to 75-50 with 8:31 to go in the contest. The Lady Tigers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Hokies still cruised the rest of the way for the 82-60 win. Virginia Tech fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 13 points.
Game Notes
» Elizabeth Kitley notched a double-double for the Hokies with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Hokies shot well from three point range, knocking down nine of 19 long range attempts.
» The Hokies held the Lady Tigers to only 33.9 percent shooting from the field.
» The Hokies never trailed after taking a 25-15 first quarter lead.
» Virginia Tech recorded 17 total assists in the game.
» Virginia Tech had a 34-23 edge on the boards in the win.
» Aisha Sheppard led the Hokies with a game-high 20 points.
» Virginia Tech got a game-high 10 rebounds from Elizabeth Kitley.
Records Set
The Hokies set several Virginia Tech ACC Tournament team records Thursday against the Tigers. Tech’s 53 first-half points were the most since the Hokies scored 51 in the first half against Syracuse back on March 2, 2018. The 22-point margin of victory was the most since beating Syracuse in the 2018 ACC Tournament by 15.
Tech shot 58.7% from the floor (27-of-46), breaking the previous record of 52.5% (32-of-61) against Wake Forest in the 2006 ACC Tournament. The 19 made free throws in today’s game was the most since the Hokies made 15 against Syracuse in the 2018 tournament. Tech also had 17 assists which was the most since dishing out 15 against Wake Forest on March 2, 2006.
**********On the individual side, Elizabeth Kitley(Northwest Guilford High School) showed why she was tabbed the ACC Player of the Year. Her 80.0% shooting from the floor (8-of-10) topped Dawn Chriss’ 75.0% (9-of-12) performance against Wake Forest in the 2006 ACC Tournament.**********
++++++++++Cayla King(Northwest Guilford HS) injured her foot/ankle in the game, pretty sure it was early in the second half, and Cayla did not return for the Virginia Tech Hokies…She had to be helped off of the court, and let’s hope she is back for tomorrow’s/Friday’s game…King finished with three points in nine minutes of action in the ball game…++++++++++