Virginia Tech claimed a 72-64 win in Thursday night’s second-round game at the Greensboro Coliseum, but closing the deal proved a shade more difficult than many in attendance might have at one point envisioned. The Hokies knocked the Hurricanes back at the outset and held a 21-point lead (57-36) with a little more than 13 minutes remaining.
Led by a standout performance from reigning ACC Player of the Week Destiny Harden (a career-high 27 points, 11 rebounds), Miami finally located some of the magic that produced a three-game winning streak at the end of the regular season. The Hurricanes closed within seven points twice in the fourth quarter and had several chances to make the score even tighter.
But the Hokies refused to let things become that interesting. Elizabeth Kitley thwarted one Miami comeback bid with a three-point play with 5:11 remaining that made the pushed Virginia Tech’s lead back to 62-52. Miami crept to within seven once more (71-64), but two missed jump shots in the final 28 seconds prevented the Hurricanes from getting any closer.
The win sent the Hokies (14-8) to Friday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal game versus tournament No. 2-seed and nationally No. 3-ranked NC State (17-2). Virginia Tech had an impressive track record versus the Wolfpack during the regular season, battling to the wire before dropping an 89-87 decision in Raleigh on Jan. 24 before rebounding to win 83-71 at home just four days later.
Kitley and Cayla King, who starred at nearby Northwest Guilford High, made a triumphant return to their home county Thursday night by combining for 31 points. Hokies’ All-ACC Freshman guard Georgia Amoore matched Kitley for team-high scoring honors with 16 points while handing out a game-high five assists. D’asia Gregg posted her first double-double at Virginia Tech with season highs in both points (13) and rebounds (10).
Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba added 13 points for Miami (11-11).
NOTES
- Thursday night’s win was fifth-year head coach Kenny Brooks’ 100th at Virginia Tech. Brooks owns a 431-174 (.712) record in a combined 19 seasons with the Hokies and at James Madison.
- Virginia Tech has now won four in a row versus Miami, the Hokies’ longest winning streak in the 31-game series between the teams. Miami led the series 21-6 before Virginia Tech’s current streak.
- Virginia Tech and Miami are now 1-1 in ACC Tournament play. Miami won the previous meeting in 2013 by a 45-39 score.
- King scored 13 first-half points to lead the Hokies to a 43-28 lead by the halftime break. Amoore added 10 points and three assists as Virginia Tech led by as many as 19 points (41-22 at the 2:18 mark) in the opening half.
- For the fourth straight game, Harden recorded double-digits in the second half, pouring in 19 points in the final 20 minutes. The forward accounted for 13 of Miami’s 19 points in the third quarter, cutting the Hokies’ lead to 12 heading into the final 10 minutes.
- All 13 of Sidi Baba’s points came in the second half.
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March 05, 2021 at 08:49AM
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Fast Start Proves the Difference for Virginia Tech - The ACC
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