CHAPEL HILL – The Virginia Tech women's basketball team got back into the win column Thursday night with an emphatic 66-54 victory over North Carolina snapping a four-game skid in conference play. Tech got inspired performances from North Carolina natives, Elizabeth Kitley and Cayla King who combined for 33 points in the contest that included timely shots during a second half run where the Hokies took control of the game.
Virginia Tech improved to 7-4 (2-4) with the result, the program's third consecutive victory inside historic Carmichael Arena, extending a program record.
Tech utilized a 12-2 run to end the first half and erase Carolina's lead. With the clock counting down, Kitley made a shot at the buzzer to give the Hokies a 27-24 advantage.
Coming out of the locker room, Tech scored the first six points to extend the advantage, one they would not relinquish the rest of the way as the Hokies closed out the game with back-to-back 3's from King and two Georgia Amoore free throws.
North Carolina fell to 7-4 (2-4).
GAME NOTES
•Virginia Tech is 9-19 against the Tar Heels. The Hokies have won three straight in Chapel Hill for the first time in program history.
•Kenny Brooks' record moves to 93-53 at Virginia Tech and 430-175 in his career.
•Tech is 5-3 all-time on January 14.
•The game was the first time in 2020-21 that Coach Brooks utilized the lineup of Georgia Amoore, Aisha Sheppard, Azana Baines, Asiah Jones and Elizabeth Kitley from the opening tip. That starting five accounted for 50 points.
•Tech is 6-2 with Amoore, Sheppard, Cayla King, Jones and Kitley.
•Tech is 0-1 with Green, Sheppard, Baines, Jones and Kitley.
•Tech is 0-1 with Sheppard, Cayla King, Baines, Jones and Kitley.
•Kitley registered her seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds. She leads the conference in that category.
•Amoore dished out seven assists a career-high.
•The Hokies held a big advantage on the glass 50-35.
It feels 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 😍🦃🔥 pic.twitter.com/klpEa0yhan
— Virginia Tech Women's Basketball (@HokiesWBB) January 15, 2021
NEXT TIME ON CARILION CLINIC COURT
•The Hokies are back at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday January 17 to face Wake Forest. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network.
•Tech leads the all-time series 16-14 and have won three of the last four. Last season, the Hokies won the regular season matchup 73-62 in Winston-Salem and the Demon Deacons won the second contest at the ACC Tournament 58-55.
Gallery: (1-14-2021) 2021 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL at NORTH CAROLINA