Rewritten: Written by AARON BEARD, AP Basketball Writer.

The sixteenth-ranked Virginia Tech team did not experience any last-minute suspense as they defeated the third-ranked North Carolina State once more.

On Thursday evening, Elizabeth Kitley scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while the Hokies made 11 shots from beyond the arc to defeat the Wolfpack 72-61. This victory marks a season sweep for the Hokies in a highly-anticipated matchup between two top teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Hokies coach Kenny Brooks expressed our constant pursuit of improvement, stating “We are always striving to improve, to improve, to improve.” We hold ourselves accountable and recognize areas for growth. However, I observed our team maintain a positive attitude from beginning to end during the game.

Georgia Amoore scored 12 points, made 10 assists, and grabbed eight rebounds for the Hokies, who are the current league champions with a record of 19-4 (10-2 in the ACC). They secured their fourth consecutive victory against N.C. State (20-3, 8-3) and only the second time in their program’s history that they have won on the Wolfpack’s home court in 14 attempts.

The Hokies won the first meeting on Kitley’s last-second layup after the then-unbeaten Wolfpack blew a 13-point lead. This time, Virginia Tech pushed ahead for good midway through the second quarter then completely controlled the third to build a double-digit lead and stare down rowdy red-clad crowd growing more frustrated by the second.

In the third quarter, the Hokies outscored the Wolfpack by almost two times (20-11) and made more 3-pointers (five) compared to N.C. State’s total baskets (four). They also utilized zone plays to disrupt the Wolfpack’s rhythm.

“We acknowledge that we may not excel in individual defense, however, we are committed to supporting one another and strategically guiding opponents to specific areas on the court,” stated Amoore. She further elaborated, “Our defensive style may not be showy and we may not be known for making steals or causing frustration, but I believe we are performing well overall.”

The end of the quarter saw Kitley break free from a double team and Wenzel quickly pass the ball from the top to Amoore for a flawless three-pointer from the wing, giving their team a 57-44 lead just before the buzzer and securing their sixth consecutive victory.

Madison Hayes led the Wolfpack with 20 points, but the team only shot 35.6% and made 6 out of 18 attempts from beyond the arc. This was in spite of Aziaha James’ strong first half performance of 17 points, as she was unable to score in the second half. Additionally, the Wolfpack only recorded four assists throughout the game.

“They entered this space with confidence and strength,” stated Wolfpack coach Wes Moore. “They secured the rebounds and loose balls, displaying a high level of energy.”

BIG PICTURE

The victory for Virginia Tech in the ACC regular-season competition was significant, as it maintains their slight lead over No. 15 Louisville (9-2). At the end of the game, there were five teams with at least eight conference wins. Virginia Tech’s upcoming schedule includes away games against the Cardinals on February 18 and No. 12 Notre Dame on February 29.

The North Carolina State Wolfpack defeated their ranked rival North Carolina and Louisville on Monday, but their streak of facing ranked opponents came to a disappointing end.

CLEAR EDGE

The Hokies were in control of the game, particularly in the front, not just with 6-foot-6 player Kitley, who has been named ACC player of the year twice.

The two starting forwards for N.C. State, River Baldwin and Mimi Collins, only scored a total of six points and had a shooting percentage of 1-for-11. They also had eight rebounds, which was the same number as the 5-foot-6 player Amoore and the 6-5 freshman center Clara Strack.

The Hokies had a higher number of rebounds than the Wolfpack, with a total of 48 compared to 31. This included 15 offensive rebounds for the Hokies and only 5 for the Wolfpack.

UP NEXT

The Hokies will welcome Boston College for a game on Sunday.

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Panthers will be hosting the N.C. State Wolfpack.

Source: wralsportsfan.com