GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the first time in program history, Virginia Tech is the ACC Women’s Tournament Champion after a 75-67 win over Louisville.
The Hokies were paced by Georgia Amoore and Elizabeth Kitley in the first half after the dynamic duo combined for 28 points. In the second half Taylor Soule stepped up in a big way scoring 9 points in the third quarter before finishing with 13.
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“Unbelievable, unbelievable,” Brooks said on the court as his players celebrated around him.
It came with another strong scoring effort from Georgia Amoore, who scored 25 points and earned tournament MVP honors for the third-seeded Hokies (27-4). There was two-time league player of the year Elizabeth Kitley adding another 20 points in her role as the inside constant. And there was Taylor Soule, emerging from a scoreless first half to provide the third-quarter lift that helped keep the Hokies on course for their 11th straight win.
Virginia Tech’s first trip to the ACC title game into a strong finishing act, pushing to a double-digit lead before halftime and keeping the Cardinals at arm’s distance the rest of the way. And that capped a three-game run in Greensboro in which the Hokies trailed for a total of 3 minutes, 15 seconds — all in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.
“I think all of us knew we were going to win,” Kitley said. “From the start of the tournament, we’ve been talking about it. Obviously we’ve been taking it day by day, game by game. But definitely throughout the game we all knew that we had it and we didn’t lose our cool, even when they were hitting big shots.”
Before Sunday, the Hokies had been as far as the ACC semifinals only once since joining the league for the 2004-05 season — and that came last year. Now they’re celebrating a milestone victory under Brooks, who has built this program to the top of the league in Year 7.
While Virginia Tech held a 38-28 halftime lead, Louisville closed in on the lead. Chrislyn Carr scored 9 points the third quarter as the Cardinals came within 7 points of the lead. Carr finished with 27 points to lead her team.
But the Hokies started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to push its lead to 58-44 over the Cardinals. Amoore continued to shoot, finishing with 25 points. She also set a record for most three-pointers in an ACC Women’s Tournament history. Kitley finished the game with 20 points. Kayana Traylor hit some clutch shots totaling 9 points.
FIRST HALF RECAP:
It’s halftime in Greensboro where the Virginia Tech Hokies are leading the Louisville Cardinals 38-28 at halftime in the ACC Women’s Championship.
Elizabeth Kitley got the Hokies off to a great start scoring the teams first six points. She now has 14 points at the break. At the other end of the court, Hailey Van Lith scored 7 of the Cardinals 14 points in the opening quarter and is up to 9 at halftime. Chrislyn Carr also has 9.
Virginia Tech found some separation at the end of the first quarter--going on a 7-0 run and a 21-14 lead entering the second quarter. Georgia Amoore started the game shooting 0-for-4 but caught fire and has 14 points at the half.
The Hokies are shooting 50 percent from the field thus far and are seeking the program’s first ever ACC Championship victory.