Hokies hold off Tigers to snap two-game skid, 74-62

By Nathan Andrews

Staff Writer

January 22, 2024

BLACKSBURG — An early day in Cassell did not disappoint. Clemson provided a formidable test, but Elizabeth Kitley and company answered the call to victory. 

Virginia Tech entered Sunday coming off its first pair of back-to-back losses since March 2022. A close game with then-No. 21 Florida State and an overwhelming loss to Duke put them in a midseason hole. The tides turned against Clemson, however.  

No. 14 Virginia Tech (14-4, 5-2) handled business Sunday afternoon, pulling away from the Tigers (8-11, 1-6), 74-62.  

Kitley, per usual, was the star of the show. She bucketed an astounding 15-for-22 from the field, scoring 31 points. Her defense was exceptional as well, recording four steals and two blocks.  

“We were able to attack and get matchups that we wanted to take advantage of,” Kitley said to reporters postgame. “They were guarding me one-on-one down low, and I think the guards did a really good job of getting me the ball. Coach Brooks did a good job of calling stuff to get me [a] good shot.” 

The contest started off extremely close, with an extremely defensive effort by both squads. Through the first quarter, the Hokies only had a four-point lead against a team that had won a lone game in the ACC.

The theme stayed the same up until halftime. Tech and Clemson exchanged the lead four times in the second quarter.  

“They [Clemson] played well,” Tech head coach Kenny Brooks said. “She [Amanda Butler] mixes it up. She does a tremendous job of mixing things up. They go from man. They go from zone. Sometimes, you spend two or three seconds trying to figure out which one they’re in. They do a good job of keeping you off-balance.” 

The defining moment of the first half, however, was during the waning seconds of the second quarter. Down 29-28, and off two straight Clemson turnovers, Matilda Ekh drained a triple to send Tech into the locker room with a two-point lead.

Ekh’s performance was crucial on Sunday afternoon. The junior from Sweden went 4-for-9 from deep, finishing the game with 16 points.  

“I was open a lot, so I was gonna shoot a lot,” Ekh said. “We have a lot of great shooters, so it’s gonna help us spread the floor and open the floor for Liz.” 

The Hokies burst out of the gates to start the second half, outscoring the Tigers 22-16 in the third quarter.

Kitley upped her point total to 19 going into the fourth quarter. She worked the post effectively, improving her fadeaway game immensely against Clemson.  

“It’s tremendous having Liz,” Brooks said. “We cannot take her greatness for granted. She has 31 and eight tonight. That’s a career game for a lot of people.”

A scary moment occurred in the middle of the fourth quarter for Tech. Cayla King got tripped up with a Clemson player and took a hard fall around the free-throw line and had to be carried off the court by two VT medical staff members.

“I’ve been with that kid forever, it was obviously a scary moment,” Brooks mentioned. “But when I was in the huddle and just trying to get the ball down to make sure the game was over; and I’m just scanning the people who are in. All of a sudden, I look up and she’s staring right at me, probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.” 

Injury has been no stranger to the Hokies, especially as of late. This was the first time in 101 games that Tech was without star guard Georgia Amoore, who sustained a head injury on Thursday against Duke. Her presence was missed against Clemson, and it seemed like the team had to plan around her absence. 

“Nobody’s gonna be Georgia, and we’re very aware of that,” Kitley said. “But luckily, we have a lot of talent and other people and bring different things. They’re not gonna do exactly what Georgia does, but some people stepped up.” 

In the place of Amoore, freshman G Carleigh Wenzel, along with Cayla King, handled point guard duties.  

The star of the Tigers on the day was Dayshanette Harris, who went off for 25 points, six steals and eight assists. She lived at the free throw line on Sunday, drawing seven fouls on the day.  

Tech will look to continue their win streak against Georgia Tech (13-6, 4-3) this Thursday in Cassell Coliseum at 6 p.m. (ACCNX)

As for Clemson, they’ll head back home to Littlejohn Coliseum to host NC State (16-2, 4-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m. 

“I told the kids after the game, I know we’ve had some really high moments here, but I’ve never been more proud of this group,” Brooks said. “They way that they fought and the way they were resilient; and it was not pretty at all times. But I loved every minute of it.”