Virginia Tech rounds out non-conference play with blowout over Radford, 89-40

By Jack Brizendine

Staff Writer

December 12, 2021

A Hail Mary shot at the end of the shot clock launched from behind the Torgersen Bridge emblem on Cassell Colisuem’s floor by Georgia Amoore found the bottom of the net, extending the Hokies’ lead to 35 points in the fourth quarter.

The shot epitomized Virginia Tech’s (8-3) dominant performance against Radford (4-5) Sunday afternoon, walloping the Highlanders 89-40.

While the Hokies made it a day to remember on the the court, there was much to be celebrated off it as the program dedicated the game to Autism Awareness.

The team celebrated Raven Kitley, older sister of VT’s Elizabeth Kitley, who has autism and is one of the program’s biggest supporters.

“That young lady has brought more joy to this program, to me — just her pure innocence, her happiness and her joy,” Kenny Brooks said. “It just makes you realize that’s the way you’re supposed to live life.”

Her younger sister also emphasized Raven’s loyalty to the program.

“She’s just the most loyal supporter no matter what we’re going through, what the team’s going through,” Elizabeth Kitley. “She’s a big fan and it’s sweet for her to be recognized.”

Elizabeth Kitley got some recognition of her own in the blowout victory, vaulting over the 1000-point mark in her VT career following her third basket in the game.

“It feels really good [to get to 1000 points],” Kitley said. “It’s nice, but I can’t think about it too much.”

Kitley finished the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds, earning her fourth double-double of the year.

Kitley’s frontcourt-mate Azana Baines also notched her second double-double of the season, racking up 14 points and 12 rebounds.

“Azana has gotten back to the [level of] play that she was playing last year,” Brooks said.

The win over the Highlanders wraps up the non-conference portion of the schedule for the Hokies, but they believe these games have helped prepare them for ACC play.

“We’ve definitely learned a lot,” Kitley said. “We’ve learned what we do really well and we’ve also learned what we can’t afford to do poorly in games, because they will make us pay. I think taking all of our experiences, our good games, our bad games, going into ACC play is going to be important and just learning from them.”

Virginia Tech gets its first taste of ACC action on Sunday in Tallahassee against Florida State (6-3).