RALEIGH – Center Elizabeth Kitley scored 30 points for the second time this season, and Aisha Sheppard added 24 but the Hokies were unable to hang on to a fourth quarter lead Sunday afternoon, ultimately falling 89-87 to the second-ranked NC State Wolfpack.
The loss drops the Hokies to 7-7 (2-7) ahead of a second clash with the Wolfpack this Thursday at Cassell Coliseum.
In a game where the momentum seemed to shift after each quarter, the Hokies to the lead early through Cayla King who hit three triples in the first quarter and Sheppard, who's first three of the game gave her 270th, cementing her as the all-time leader in program history.
The Wolfpack fought back in the second quarter and went into the locker room holding a 47-41 advantage at the half thanks to a 10-3 run in the closing minutes.
It was the Hokies who took control in the third frame, building a 10-point lead by the end of it thanks to scoring runs led by Kitley who operated freely much of the afternoon and capitalized with 30 points.
NC State (11-0, 6-0) erased a 14-point deficit in the closing quarter utilizing a 16-0 run and key shots from Kai Crutchfield who finished with 20 points, Kayla Jones (22) and Jakia Brown-Turner (23).
King finished with 12 points, Georgia Amoore added eight points and seven assists and Azana Baines scored seven points and pulled down eight rebounds.
GAME NOTES
•Virginia Tech is now 1-22 against the Wolfpack.
•Kenny Brooks' record moves to 93-56 at Virginia Tech and 430-178 in his career.
•Tech is 6-6 all-time on January 24.
•The starting lineup of Georgia Amoore, Aisha Sheppard, Cayla King, Azana Baines and Elizabeth Kitley accounted for 81 points. It was the first game of the season that this combination had been utilized from the opening tip.
•Kitley registered her 10th double-double of the season with 30 points and 13 rebounds. She leads the conference in that category after securing her fourth consecutive one.
• Aisha Sheppard scored four 3-pointers, taking her career total to 273, becoming the program's all-time leader in that category. She ranks 10th all-time in 3's in ACC history.
NEXT TIME ON THE COURT
•A second meeting against the Wolfpack is scheduled for Thursday, January 28 at Cassell Coliseum. That game will also tip at 4 p.m. and will be shown on RSN.
Gallery: (1-24-2021) 2021 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL at NC STATE
