If you look at ACC women's basketball over the last few years, the road to an ACC title has run through Blacksburg and Raleigh.
Since 2020, only Virginia Tech and NC State have won the ACC Tournament title, and Sunday's pivotal matchup could be a preview of things to come in Greensboro in early March.
Though the two have never faced off against each other in the ACC title game, they sure have had their fair share of intense regular-season games.
Tech and State face off at noon ET on Sunday at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum and single-game tickets are available starting at $12 ($7 for youth), while family fan four-packs start at $40.
The Hokies (10-2, 1-0 ACC) are ranked No. 13 and are coming off of their largest win in ACC play, defeating Pitt 91-41 this past Sunday. The third-ranked Wolfpack (13-0, 1-0) are one of only seven teams in Division I women's basketball that are undefeated and recently beat Virginia 72-61 Sunday.
The two teams first began playing each other in 1980 and Tech has won the last two matchups. Below we break down some of the Hokies' memorable victories in recent memory.
Virginia Tech 89, No. 2 NC State 87
Jan. 28, 2021 | Blacksburg, Va.
Picked to finish middle of the pack (7th) in the ACC preseason poll, the Hokies found themselves off to a rough start in league play with a 2-6 ACC record heading into the game. Just four days earlier, they lost at NC State in a heartbreaker, 89-87. Oddly enough, Tech had a chance for revenge in short order due to COVID-19 schedule implications and faced off against the Wolfpack for the second straight game four days later. In turn, they got it done and earned their highest ranked victory in program history with an 83-71 overtime victory against the second-ranked Wolfpack. Guard Aisha Sheppard exploded for 18 points alone in overtime to propel the Hokies to a win – a win that has changed the trajectory of the program under Kenny Brooks. Since that win, Tech is 79-27 (.774 winning percentage).
Gallery: (1-28-2021) 2021 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs. NC STATE
No. 11 Virginia Tech 73, No. 22 NC State 61
Feb. 6, 2023 | Raleigh, N.C.
This win for the Hokies marked their first ever win over the Wolfpack in Raleigh. Guard Georgia Amoore (27 points) and center Elizabeth Kitley (25 points) both had 25-plus and did so on an emotional night for NC State during its 18th annual Play4Kay Game. Tech punched first, getting out to a 13-2 lead and would not trail for the entirety of the game. Guard Cayla King also was in double figures, scoring 10 points, including three 3-pointers.
Gallery: (2-6-2023) WBB: Game at NC State
No. 11 Virginia Tech 75, NC State 62
Feb. 19, 2023 | Blacksburg, Va.
On Senior Day for the Hokies, four scored in double figures to finish the regular season with an impressive record of 14-1 at home. Amoore and Kitley both turned in double-doubles, while Taylor Soule and D'asia Gregg each had 10-plus points. Tech shared the rock well, turning in 19 assists, and also put the clamps on defensively, holding the Pack to shooting 35 percent from the field. The win secured Tech the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament, marking its first-ever double-bye in the tournament.
Gallery: (2-20-2023) WBB: NC State Game
