Virginia Tech edges out No. 11 Georgia Tech for third-straight ACC win, 73-63

By Jack Brizendine

Staff Writer

February 11, 2022

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech (18-6, 10-3 Atlantic Coast) picked up a huge ranked win over No. 11 Georgia Tech (18-6, 9-4 Atlantic Coast) at home Thursday night, 73-63, but don’t be so quick to call it an upset.

“We didn’t feel like it was an upset,” head coach Kenny Brooks said after the game. “We don’t feel that way. And it’s not being overconfident, we just know what type of team we are.”

The win is Virginia Tech’s third in five days in their eighth game in 23 days.

“I’ve been proud of [the team] all week,” Brooks said. “They’ve handled themselves extremely well all week…It’s been unorthodox this week. We haven’t practiced since Wednesday [Feb. 12] before Notre Dame. We have like an NBA schedule.”

The Hokies handled the packed slate of games well, but fatigue looked like it started to creep up in the later stages of the game against the Yellow Jackets.

Up by as many as 22 points, Virginia Tech’s lead dwindled to just five with 3:27 to play.

Sophomore point guard Georgia Amoore delivered a potential knockout blow half a minute later with her third fifth triple of the game (not to be out-done by her third trey, which sent Sarah Bates to the ground and landed her the top spot on Sportscenter’s Top Ten plays.)

Georgia Tech didn’t give in, returning the favor with a bucket to make it a 67-61 game with 1:55 to play.

Then came the dagger from Cayla King.

Amoore dribbled the ball to the left baseline, took the ball inside and rifled a pass to King on the right wing. King then shuffled two steps to her left and sunk a shot right in front of the Carilion Court logo.

The bucket was King’s lone score in the game, but it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for the Hokies.

“We were all saying how as soon as she let it go we knew it was going in,” Elizabeth Kitley said. “That was just a big confidence boost for our team because we knew we had turned it over, done whatever, but we were going to make up for it.”

It’s been a common theme for Virginia Tech. When one player makes a mistake, there’s always another person there to pick up the slack.

“I think that’s the best thing about this team is we’re so confident in each other,” Amoore said.

The win vaults the Hokies into a tie for third place in the conference.

It’s a start that no team in program history has been able to produce, one that shows just how talented Brooks’ squad really is.

“It’s the best team that I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Brooks said. “Now, when we walk out on the court, we can match up with anybody as far as talent goes.”

The Virginia Tech team in Kenny Brooks’ tenure will look to make it four ACC wins in a row –– and four ranked wins on the year –– against No. 23 North Carolina (19-4, 9-4) on Sunday at 1 p.m.