After beating Boston College by 15 points just a day earlier, ‘Canes women’s basketball lost by 26 to No. 8 Virginia Tech, 68-42, at the Greensboro Coliseum on Friday night in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
The Hokies entered the game as heavy favorites and lived up to their expectations. Going into the match, third-seeded Virginia Tech (25-4, 14-4 ACC) was on an eight-game winning streak.
The Hokies played their brand of basketball close to perfection against the Hurricanes (19-12, 11-7 ACC). As a team, Virginia Tech held the ‘Canes, which put up their second–lowest scoring total all season, to 24% shooting from the floor. The only time the Hurricanes scored fewer points was in a 40-point showing against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 12.
Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley, the reigning two-time ACC Player of the Year, was the one doing the heavy lifting for the Hokies. Kitley led all scorers with 22 points and had 10 rebounds, five of which were on the offensive glass. She also had four blocks, almost doubling her season average in the category.
Kitley, in fact, had more points than the entire Hurricanes starting lineup, which scored just 19 points collectively. Miami guard Hanna Cavinder led the team in scoring with seven points.
Nothing clicked for the Hurricanes from the get-go. Virginia Tech immediately got it going by outscoring Miami 20-5 in the first quarter. Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore had nine points in the first quarter, and the ‘Canes had just 15 points at halftime, where they trailed 29-15.
The second half was not any better for the ‘Canes. Virginia Tech zoomed out to a 10-0 run that increased its lead to 39-15 in the third quarter. The Hokies’ largest lead was 33 points at the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
The Hurricanes will now wait until Selection Sunday for their NCAA Tournament fate. The Selection Show will take place on Sunday, March 12 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.