By Marty Gordon
Liz Kitley and Georgia Amore are probably the top duo this year in women’s college basketball.
Kitley is a fifth year senior and walked onto the court as part of Sunday’s Senior Day one last time, but the question is whether Amore will have a second senior year and come back for another one in Blacksburg. She is eligible for another run but told onlookers and media on Sunday she had not made up her mind.
For the second time this season, No. 8 Virginia Tech women’s basketball took down the Tar Heels, 74-62, marking the 10th straight win for the Hokies as they wrapped up regular-season play undefeated in the Cassell. Coincidentally, it was in front of another sold-out crowd.
With the win, the Hokies have the No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament for the first time in team history.
The dynamic duo of Kitley and Amore took what might be their last regular season bow at home, but it is expected there would be a home contest in the NCAA tournament next month.
Kitley took center stage and racked up 34 points and six rebounds. Amoore added a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists and Matilda Ekh chipped in as well with 11 points.
The Hokies’ defense held North Carolina to only 39 percent shooting from the field, including 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Tar Heels did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with six offensive rebounds and managed seven second chance points while Virginia Tech cleared 32 defensive rebounds.
In other notes from Sunday, Amoore became the program’s all-time leader in assists in the game.
Tech won its 25th consecutive home game, tying the program record. The 15-0 record in the regular season is the third time in program history that the Hokies have gone unblemished at home.
Amoore notched a double-double for the Hokies with 19 points and 11 assists.
The Hokies never trailed after taking a 21-5 first quarter lead. Virginia Tech tallied 16 total assists in the game.
Kitley, Amoore and Ekh ombined to account for 86 percent of the Hokies points.
Amoore racked up 11 assists for Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech had a 36-27 edge on the boards in the win.
Virginia Tech got a game-high 14 rebounds from Olivia Summiel.
“College Game Day” made its way to Blacksburg on Sunday morning shortly before the UNC contest.
Kitley and Coach Kenny Brooks made appearances on the show.
Brooks told the broadcasters that the situation at Virginia Tech was an “healthy culture”, and he described the team as “chicken salad”.
“And you gotta have the chicken to make the salad, and that is Georgia (Amore),” he said.
At the end of the show, the four female announcers took jello shots and thanked the crowd for coming out early in the morning.
Brooks has gone international with several of his incoming recruits. This past week, Amelia Hassett, a 6-foot-3 native of Australia announced on social she has verbally committed to Virginia Tech. Amoore is also Australian.
Hassett, from New South Wales, is averaging 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes this season. He is shooting 55.9% from the field. She made 48 3-pointers in 26 games.
