Kitley scores game-winner, No. 13 Virginia Tech women end No. 3 NC State’s undefeated season 63-62
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley scored a layup on a cross-court inbound pass with less than a second remaining and the No. 13 Virginia Tech women beat No. 3 NC State 63-62 on Sunday, ending the Wolfpack’s undefeated season.
Kitley finished with 27 points for the Hokies (12-2, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who rallied from a 13-point second half deficit to win their seventh consecutive game. The Hokies also won their 19th consecutive home game.
Madison Hayes paced the Wolfpack (14-1, 2-1) with 21 points.
Kitley gave the Hokies their first lead of the game at 61-60 with 1:28 remaining. The Wolfpack regained the lead on a layup by Saniya Rivers with less than three seconds to go.
After timeouts by each team, Virginia Tech’s Cayla King threw a cross-court lob pass to the 6-foot-6 Kitley, who caught it and scored the game-winner.
Kitley shot 12 of 24 from the floor and Georgia Amoore had 21 points for the Hokies, who shot 41.5% (27 of 65).
Rivers finished with 12 points for the Wolfpack, who shot 40.7% (24 of 59) and made just one field goal in the final eight minutes.
TAKEAWAYS
NC State: The Wolfpack played without center River Baldwin, who suffered an ankle injury in the team’s win over Florida State on Thursday and may be out for a few weeks, according to coach Wes Moore. Her presence might have helped defend Kitley on the final play. Regardless, the Wolfpack already have three wins over top-25 teams, including two top-10 wins, so they have put themselves in a good position heading into the season’s final two months.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies had been looking for a signature win after losing to top-10 foes Iowa and LSU earlier in the season and took advantage of arguably their best remaining opportunity. This victory should propel them back into the top 10 of the upcoming Associated Press poll and without question will help with NCAA Tournament seeding in March.
UP NEXT
NC State: Hosts Virginia on Thursday.
Virginia Tech: Hosts Miami on Thursday.
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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball