BLACKSBURG, VA --The Virginia Tech women's basketball team pulled away late with some clutch shooting and defensive stops to earn a hard-fought 61-56 victory at Cassell Coliseum Thursday night.
The Hokies (21-4, 12-2) had three players score in double figures, led by Elizabeth Kitley, who recorded a double-double with 34 points and 12 rebounds. Georgia Amoore added 13 points and three steals and Matilda Ekh chipped in with 11 points.
Kitley pulled down seven offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Virginia Tech, grabbing 15 boards and turning them into 19 second chance points.
The Virginia Tech defense caused its share of mistakes in Thursday's game, forcing 14 Duke turnovers while committing 11. Those takeaways turned into 10 points on the other end of the floor. Amoore's three steals led the way individually for the Hokies.
How It Happened
After falling behind 4-2, Virginia Tech went on a 7-0 run with 8:08 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Kitley, to take a 9-4 lead. The Hokies then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 15-14 advantage. Virginia Tech did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 15 points close to the basket.
Duke rallied to take a 27-23 lead before Virginia Tech went on a 7-0 run starting at the 1:58 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Ekh, to take a 30-27 lead, a score that would hold until halftime. Virginia Tech was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 15 points.
Virginia Tech continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a three from Ekh, to expand its lead further to 35-29 with 8:30 to go in the third. The Blue Devils then rallied to tie it at 42-42 heading into the fourth quarter. The Hokies played well near the basket, scoring six of its 12 points in the paint.
Virginia Tech then grabbed a 54-53 lead before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Amoore's three, to grow its advantage to 59-53 with 20 seconds to go in the contest. The Blue Devils narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Hokies still held on for the 61-56 win. Virginia Tech pulled down six offensive rebounds to score eight second chance points out of 19 total in the period
Game Notes
» Elizabeth Kitley notched an impressive double-double for the Hokies with 34 points and 12 rebounds.
» The Hokies outscored Duke 14-19 in the fourth quarter to break a 42-42 third quarter tie.
» The Hokies held the Blue Devils to only 36.5 percent shooting from the field.
» Elizabeth Kitley, Georgia Amoore, and Matilda Ekh combined to account for 95 percent of the Hokies points.
» The Virginia Tech defense forced 14 turnovers.
» The Hokies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording six blocks as a team.
» Virginia Tech cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
» Elizabeth Kitley led the Hokies with a game-high 34 points.
» Virginia Tech got a game-high 12 rebounds from Elizabeth Kitley.
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Gallery: (2-15-2024) WBB: Duke game