Physical play, bench production push Hokies to semifinals for first time

By Jack Brizendine

Staff Writer

March 4, 2022

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Two and a half minutes remained in overtime when D’asia Gregg was tripped and slammed to the floor while driving to the rim for a potential go-ahead bucket against No. 16 North Carolina.

Gregg, who logged a season-high 32 minutes against the Tar Heels, rolled onto her stomach in pain before working up to her feet.

After sinking the first shot of her one-and-one, Gregg missed off the back of the rim, and the ball bounced into a cloud of white UNC jerseys.

Emily Lytle emerged from the scrum with the ball, bounced it once and laid it up to give the Hokies the lead — one they would hold on to for the rest of the game, as No. 21 Virginia Tech (23-8) edged out the victory against North Carolina (23-6) to advance to the semifinals of the ACC tournament for the first time in program history.

“Emily was huge all day, all game, whether it showed up in the stat sheet or not,” Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks said after the game. “And that rebound –– that offensive rebound –– the stick back was huge for us. It gave us momentum when it seemed like we were kind of just climbing an uphill battle. And that really put us over the top and we were able to solidify the win after that.”

Gregg’s toughness and Lytle’s hustle bucket epitomized the Hokies’ formula for success against the Tar Heels: matching North Carolina’s physicality combined with Tech bench players stepping up with the absence of key starters.

“We endured it, we handled it and then we started to dish it out as well,” Brooks said. “If you're going to be successful in this league, you've got to be able to do so…What we're proving is that we can go out there and we can play a physical style, as well, and beat you at that game, as well.”

The first domino to fall in Tech’s usual starting lineup all year was Cayla King, who suffered an ankle sprain in the Hokies’ win against Clemson on Thursday.

Ten minutes into its game on Friday, the second domino fell — with bigger repercussions for Brooks’ squad. While diving for a loose ball, Elizabeth Kitley collided with North Carolina guard Kennedy Todd-Williams with less than one second left in the first quarter. Kitley played just 57 seconds in the second quarter before subbing out for good.

“A little bit over 24 hours ago, we walked into here and we were very healthy, and then whatever it is, 30 hours later, two of our main players are not with us,” Brooks said. “And we very well had reason to just say, ‘You know what, we gave it a valiant effort.’ But they didn't. They regroup really quick. We had to get to halftime so we could make some adjustments and figure out how we were going to play the second half.

“From that point on, they all believed. They all believed. They all stepped up. They played extremely well.”

The injury forced D’asia Gregg into the five role, and she delivered, nearly registering a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Gregg carried the load offensively while filling in for Kitley, but the team struggled to manufacture her defensive presence, allowing the Tar Heels to net 34 points in the paint by game’s end.

That offensive output from UNC propelled them to a nine-point lead with three minutes to play in the third quarter. Virginia Tech came storming back, however, tying the game four times in the final ten minutes, fueled by a group effort of Georgia Amoore, Aisha Sheppard and Kayana Traylor.

Amoore’s final make from the field came with two seconds on the clock, sinking a layup while getting fouled, eventually converting the and-one to give VT a three-point lead.

“The trust that Coach has in me to run that obviously speaks volumes,” Georgia Amoore said. “But I turned that corner — I don't think I faked a hand-off. That lane was just wide open. And I saw it and I took it and had all the trust that I was going to make it and draw the foul.”

Eva Hodgson played hero for North Carolina a second later, sinking a three from the left wing to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, VT went to the free throw line 15 times, knocking down 13 of them to propel the Hokies to victory.

During halftime of the N.C. State-Florida State game, Brooks said that he does not expect Kitley to play in tomorrow’s game against the Wolfpack, but the team isn’t going to stop fighting just because two of its starters are unavailable.

“It's the tournament,” Amoore said. “It would be selfish of us to go out there and not give everything we've got.”