No. 16 Virginia Tech edges out Boston College, 74-63

By Duncan Irvine

Staff Writer

February 11, 2024

BLACKSBURG — No. 16 Virginia Tech women’s basketball returned to the friendly confines of Cassell Coliseum on Sunday afternoon, where it defeated Boston College, 74-63.

There was a minor big game hangover for the Hokies, who knocked off No. 3 NC State for the second time this season on Thursday. Tech did enough to survive though, which this late in the season is vitally important. 

Neither team was able to take advantage of the other’s slow start. Boston College got a 4-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game but scored just two points over the next four and a half minutes while Virginia Tech missed its first four shots. 

Coming off her ACC record-breaking 73rd career double-double, Elizabeth Kitley served as the team’s anchor once again. She scored the Hokies’ first six points and was the only player to make multiple shots in the first frame.

At the end of the first, Virginia Tech led 15-12. The Hokies shot 6-for-18 from the field and 2-for-10 from 3-point range while the Eagles went 6-for-19.

Teya Sidberry led the way for Boston College. She scored 11 of the team’s first 19 points and helped the Eagles hang around. 

BC did a good job doubling Kitley and not letting her get the looks she wanted. Kitley was visibly frustrated at times, especially with the physicality in the paint and the inconsistency of foul calls.

“You get frustrated when [Kitley] can come out with a knot on her head like she gets and nobody does anything,” Tech head coach Kenny Brooks. “It gets frustrating.”

By choosing to heavily focus on Kitley, the floor opened up for Georgia Amoore. She took advantage of spacing, dropping in a couple of threes en route to a 10-point second quarter. 

The thing about dominant players is that no matter how much you try to slow them down, they will find a way to get their buckets. Kitley was still able to power her way through, reminding everyone in Cassell why she is a two-time ACC Player of the Year.

She finished the first half with 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting, grabbing seven boards. 

With the Hokies’ star duo fully cooking, Tech got some separation, taking a 37-29 lead into the break.

The Hokies came out of the half with their foot still on the gas, connecting on their first three 3-point attempts. Boston College called a timeout in an attempt to stop the bleeding, and was able to slow down the Hokies offense. 

The teams held relatively steady over the next few minutes, with the Eagles cutting the lead back to single digits on multiple occasions. Liz Kitley collected her tenth board during this stretch, adding another double-double to her ACC record.

A strong finish to the quarter by Boston College cut the Hokie lead to six heading into the final quarter. 

Two minutes into the fourth quarter, T’Yana Todd hit a layup to cut Tech’s lead to three. 

“In the past games we’ve tended to fold. I was really proud of our team [not to] and stick together,” Boston College head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee said. “We were able to close that gap and make a run of our own.” 

Matilda Ekh answered with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession and a technical foul committed by Todd gave the Hokies two free throws and possession, which got their lead to eight. 

The teams traded buckets on the next few possessions. The Eagles hung around for most of the quarter, not letting the atmosphere or the moment get to them.

Virginia Tech’s star power proved to be too much, and Kitley and Amoore eventually pulled away, cementing the victory. 

There were moments when Boston College made it close, but it felt like Virginia Tech was in control the entire way through. 

Amoore led all scorers with 26 points. 

Kitley finished the night with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Beyond the main two of Kitley and Amoore, Ekh was a bright spot on the day for the Hokies. She scored nine (and hit the very timely three to flip momentum back in the Hokies’ favor,) grabbing six boards and collecting three assists, both above her season averages. 

Clara Strack had a mini-breakout game of her own. The freshman scored seven points and collected six rebounds. 

The Hokies had a rough afternoon from beyond the arc, going 9-for-33.  If the Hokies shot close to their season average of 36%, the game might have looked entirely different.

“We just didn’t knock down some of those shots,” Brooks said, “I really think that if we knock down some of those shots that would change the complexion of the game.” 

Sidberry and Todd led the Eagles with 15 points each. Andrea Daley was the only other Eagle to reach double digits for Boston College, scoring 11.

Virginia Tech moved to 20-4 on the season and 11-2 in the ACC. The Hokies will look to avenge their mid-season loss against Duke on Thursday. 

Boston College dropped to 11-15 on the year and 3-10 in conference play. The Eagles will return home to Chestnut Hill to take on Louisville on Thursday.