BLACKSBURG, VA --The Virginia Tech women's basketball team held South Carolina Upstate to just 7.7 percent from 3-point range in a 1-for-13 shooting performance on the way to a 79-24 victory against the Spartans at home Monday.
The Hokies (3-0) had five players score in double figures, led by Kayana Traylor, who had 17 points and three steals. Elizabeth Kitley tacked on a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and Georgia Amoore helped out with 11 points, four assists and three steals.
Taylor Soule pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Virginia Tech, grabbing 15 boards and turning them into 19 second chance points.
Virginia Tech did a great job disrupting South Carolina Upstate shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Kitley's two rejections led the way individually for the Hokies.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 6-2 advantage, Virginia Tech went on a 10-0 run with 5:55 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Kitley, to increase its lead to 16-2. The Hokies then added one point to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 20-5 advantage. Virginia Tech got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for seven of its 20 total points.
Virginia Tech kept its first quarter lead intact before going on an 11-0 run starting at the 7:35 mark in the second period to increase its lead to 31-5. The Hokies proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed a 36-9 advantage heading into halftime. Virginia Tech dominated in the paint, scoring eight of its 16 points close to the basket.
Following intermission, Virginia Tech continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 41-11 before going on a 23-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Traylor, to expand its lead further to 64-11 with 1:44 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Spartans had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Hokies still entered the fourth quarter with a 64-15 edge. Virginia Tech knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter to score 12 of its 28 total points.
Virginia Tech kept widening that lead, expanding it to 69-17 before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Soule's jumper, to grow the lead to 75-17 with 6:48 to go in the contest. The Spartans narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Hokies still cruised the rest of the way for the 79-24 win. Virginia Tech took advantage of six South Carolina Upstate turnovers in the quarter, scoring four points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» Elizabeth Kitley notched a double-double for the Hokies with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Hokies held the Spartans to only 20.9 percent shooting from the field.
» The Hokies never trailed after taking a 20-5 first quarter lead.
» Virginia Tech had a stellar day defensively, holding South Carolina Upstate to 8 percent from beyond the arc on 13 attempts.
» The Virginia Tech bench came alive by adding 26 points to its scoring output.
» Five Virginia Tech players scored 10 or more points.
» The Hokies forced 26 South Carolina Upstate turnovers while committing only nine on the other end.
» Virginia Tech had a 45-31 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Virginia Tech defense forced 26 turnovers.
» The Hokies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying five blocks as a team.
» Virginia Tech cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
» Kayana Traylor led the Hokies with a game-high 17 points.
» Virginia Tech got a team-high 10 rebounds from Elizabeth Kitley.
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Gallery: (11-14-2022) WBB: USC Upstate Game