Hokies Roll Past Hurricanes in Fourth Straight ACC Win

Topher Wagner

February 12, 2021

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Driven by a powerful three-point attack and stellar performances from Elizabeth Kitley and Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech took an early lead and never looked back, beating Miami 75-55.

After a midseason skid, Virginia Tech flipped the switch in ACC play, winning its fourth straight game and gaining momentum in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth. During their high scoring stretch, the Hokies have leaned on the dynamic duo of Sheppard and Kitley.

It was no different on Thursday night as the two stars had 19 points apiece and hit clutch shots all game long. Unfortunately for Miami, it was simply another team that was steamrolled by the Hokies three-point shooting as the Hurricanes couldn’t keep up with Tech’s offense.

“Extremely proud of the kids, that was my first time ever winning here so it’s a tough place to play,” head coach Kenny Brooks said postgame. “But I thought that they listened to the scouting report, came together, and executed well. They were just really locked in. That was a very feisty Miami team and I think things are coming together for us.”

For most opponents, the key to containing the Hokies is to prevent Sheppard and Kitley from teaming up to form a lethal scoring duo. However in this matchup, despite the strong performances by Tech’s star duo, there was another player that stepped up to extend the Hokies’ lead.

Freshman Georgia Amoore started this season on limited playing time as she was adjusting to the collegiate game after spending her entire childhood in Australia.

Lately, it has been the scrappy guard who has been able to dominate in big moments for the Hokies. The sharpshooter put on a show Thursday, hitting five three-pointers enroute to a 17-point outburst while also adding five assists and four steals.

If Amoore continues to put up these numbers the rest of the way, the Hokies are going to be a tough matchup once the ACC meets for the conference tournament early next month.

“All the coaches have helped me, I don't think there has been a single practice session that I haven't gotten some kind of criticism,” Amoore said describing her development this year. “It's about growing as well, obviously I’m a freshman and every game has been better so it’s just building on all of that.”

At the start of this contest, Miami kept it close and scored the first two buckets while looking to improve to 12-2 all time in Coral Gables against the Hokies. However, this was shockingly the Hurricanes’ longest and only lead of the game as the Hokies went on an 8-0 run and never looked back.

Amoore and Sheppard traded three-point shots as the Miami defense was exposed early and often with no real answer for Tech’s perimeter attack. For the Hurricanes, the duo of Kelsey Marshall and Destiny Harden kept it close at the start of the game but didn’t receive much help elsewhere as the Virginia Tech lead grew.

“I think a big emphasis for us the past couple of wins has been defense and sticking to the scouts,” Amoore said. “When we can limit other teams from scoring we can really capitalize on that.”

After a strong beginning to the second quarter, the Hokies let the Hurricanes back in the game after an Endia Banks three-pointer trimmed the deficit to single digits.

What followed was vintage Hokies basketball as of late, as Virginia Tech exploded for a 10-0 run led by a dominant combination of perimeter shooting and inside paint presence. The Hurricanes were unable to stop any part of the Hokies’ offense, led by Kitley’s 10 points in the second quarter.

Miami also had twice as many turnovers as their opponents in the first half, as Tech capitalized with six points off takeaway.

“We know that we have a good inside presence and shooters obviously surrounding so it’s hard for teams to guard both,” Kitley said.

A dominant first half led to a back and forth third quarter, as the Hurricanes tried desperately to rally back. Marshall and Harden were everywhere, hitting shot after shot from deep and holding Sheppard to a scoreless start to the half. They also had a strong press defense and it looked like Miami would drag their way back into it as they cut the deficit to 10.

That’s when the Georgia Amoore show began once again.

After a deep Marshall three-pointer, Amoore took over. The freshman showed that no stage was too bright for her as she hit two free throws, nailed a three-pointer and, for good measure, pulled up from deep as time expired to bury another triple. The buzzer beater seemingly ended the Hurricanes’ chances.

Following Amoore’s buzzer beating 3-point heave, Miami was flattened to start the fourth quarter.

Sheppard woke back up after a quiet third quarter, scoring nine straight and the Hokies pulled away to win in convincing fashion.

Even in defeat, Harden put on a show in the fourth quarter, finishing with 20 points and four rebounds.

“We got great performances from Liz with a double-double, and I thought Georgia Amoore was fantastic,” Brooks said. “Obviously our newfound power forward position with the combination of Azana Baines and D’asia Gregg was tremendous as well. Really good win for us.”

In what has been a dominant four game winning streak for the Hokies, Virginia Tech has single handedly willed itself back into contention for the NCAA Tournament. Behind stellar performances from Sheppard, Kitley, Amoore and a string of other supporting cast members, this scrappy team has shown they can compete with anyone after its early skid.

Hoping to end their ACC slate on a hot streak, the tough Hokies won’t go away down the stretch as they hope to end this exhilarating season with a March Madness berth.

Up next, the Hokies have an extended 10-day break before returning home to face Syracuse, while Miami has a quick turnaround as it travels to battle Florida State on Sunday.