TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Fourteen points on 7 of 12 shooting from freshman Elizabeth Kitley was not enough Sunday as the Virginia Tech women's basketball team fell at No. 8 FSU 86-62. The loss is Tech's second of the season and moves the program's record to 10-2 (0-1).
Florida State improved to 13-0 (2-0) for the first time in program history.
Tech began the second quarter with a huge 10-2 run to take the lead and seize momentum with two Lydia Rivers field goals, a 3-pointer from Cayla King and Mabrey's triple. FSU took a timeout and would close the half on a 17-2 run to end the half and take a 10-point lead into the half.
The Hokies were led by Kitley's 14 as well as Mabrey who went 4 of 7 from downtown. Rivers scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Baptiste led the Hokies with nine boards in the game.
The Seminoles had five players in double figures led by Nausia Woolfolk's 21. Nicki Ekhomu added 16 and Mo Jones had 11. As a team, the 'Noles shot 48% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc, making eight shots.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Hokies had just 13 turnovers in the game after having 23 in consecutive games at the Coqui Classic.
- FSU held a 50-30 advantage in the paint.
- The 'Noles scored 16 points off of turnovers, while Tech scored two points.
- The Hokies' bench scored six points; Baptiste (2), Ennis (1) and King (3).
- Dara Mabrey went 4 of 7 from the 3-point line, the fifth time this season that she has registered four or more triples in a single game.
GAME NOTES
- Tech used the same starting lineup for the fifth straight game – Cole, Mabrey, Sheppard, Rivers and Kitley.
- Aisha Sheppard was held under 10 points for the first time this season, scoring eight points on 3-15 shooting from the floor. She continues to lead the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game.
NEXT TIME ON THE HARDWOOD
- The will play at nationally ranked NC State on Thursday, January 2. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
- Last season, the Wolfpack earned a 70-61 victory in overtime over the Hokies, also at Reynolds Coliseum.
- NC State leads the all-time series 19-1, with Tech's lone victory coming at the ACC Tournament in 2015, 57-56.
NEXT TIME ON CARILION CLINIC COURT
•Tech will return to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday, January 5 to take on North Carolina on ACC Network Extra. Tipoff for that contest is set for 2 p.m.
•The Hokies are 6-19 all-time against the Tar Heels and fell 81-69 at home in last season's only meeting. This season, the programs will play a home-and-home as they are grouped together in the new ACC 'pod' format with 18 league games.