Hokies and Tar Heels DUEL IN CASSELL, BOTH SEARCHING FOR FOURTH ACC WIN

Jay Winters

January 31, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Coming off the incredible overtime victory against NC State on Thursday, Virginia Tech looks to sweep the series against North Carolina Sunday at 4 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

Virginia Tech (8-7, 3-7 ACC) sits at 12th place in the ACC standings, and with a victory has a chance to make up precious ground to get to a tie for ninth alongside Miami.

Since playing the Hokies last on Jan. 14, the Tar Heels (8-6, 3-6 ACC) have gone 1-2 with losses to Syracuse and No. 1 Louisville, and a win against Notre Dame. In that stretch, graduate transfer Petra Holesinska put up marks of 26 most recently against Louisville, and 24 against Notre Dame, while shooting a combined 11-for-21 from three. Holesinska is second on the team in scoring, behind senior center Janelle Bailey who leads with a 14.6 scoring average paired with 8.1 rebounds per game.

Tech is 9-19 all time against UNC but has won five of the last six meetings dating back to 2016. Just over two weeks ago, the Hokies snapped a four game losing skid against the Tar Heels in a 66-54 win, led by Cayla King who went 50% from three alongside 15 points, and a 18-point, 14-rebound game for Elizabeth Kitley.

Virginia Tech Keys to the Game: Ride the Momentum and Focus

After the biggest win in program history, it’ll be important for the Hokies to not get hung up on one game and harness the excitement and momentum going forward, which was something Aisha Sheppard made a point on postgame against NC State. The Hokies have a chance to win back to back games for the first time since the beginning of the season, and if the Hokies remain focused and have a “next play” mentality, they will be peaking at a crucial point in the season.

North Carolina Keys to the Game: Capitalize on the Boards

UNC has dominated on both ends of the rebounding floor, averaging 16.2 offensive rebounds per game, good for fourth in the ACC and top-25 in the country. On the defensive side, UNC is averaging 31 boards per game, which is third in the ACC and 15th in the country. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech only averages 11.6 offensive rebounds per game, so the Heels should statistically have more opportunities to put points on the board, while limiting second chance opportunities for Hokie putbacks and kickouts.

Virginia Tech Player to Watch: Aisha Sheppard

Sheppard is the premier scorer in the ACC, and one of the top offensive players in the country, averaging 19.5 points per game. The senior guard is coming off one of the best stretches of her career, putting up marks of 29, 24, and 28 points in her last three contests, while also breaking Tech’s all-time three point record. Opposing teams haven't been able to limit her to anything less than 14 points all season, and if she continues to play like she has in her last three, it will be tough for the Tar Heels to escape with a win.

North Carolina Player to Watch: Stephanie Watts

For the Tar Heels, Stephanie Watts could be the key to a victory as the fifth leading scorer on the team has netted double-digits the last three games, including a season high 25-point 12-rebound performance in the win against Notre Dame. If Watts can support the duo of Bailey and Holensinska, the Tar Heels have a chance to pull out a win.

Score Prediction Virginia Tech 75, North Carolina 70

The first contest was an extremely low scoring game for two of the top offensive teams in the ACC, but the point total for each team should be a bit higher this time around.

Coming into the last meeting, the Tar Heels were one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the ACC percentage wise. In the three game span since the two last played, the Tar Heels have shot 36% from beyond the arc, which is right around what the Hokies average.

This spike in three point shooting should make the contest closer than the last, but expect the Hokies to pull this one out.

Bailey and Kitley will battle down low, Holesinska and Sheppard will duel, but it will most likely come down to who’s fourth or fifth option can step up, and the Hokies should have the advantage in this category. King stepped up last time, and expect either her, Azana Baines, or Georgia Amoore to contribute significantly for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech will pull this one out riding the momentum, 75-70.