Kitley, Amoore lead No. 11 Virginia Tech past No. 9 Duke :: WRALSportsFan.com

By The Related Press

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore every scored 20 factors to guide No. 11 Virginia Tech to a 61-45 victory over No. 9 Duke on Thursday evening.

Taylor Soule added 11 factors for the Hokies (21-4, 11-4 Atlantic Coast Convention), who’ve received 5 straight and eight of their final 9 video games. For the primary time in program historical past, Virginia Tech has registered wins over ranked opponents in three consecutive video games.

“We proceed to do what we’re doing and play to this functionality, there are a variety of groups we are able to beat,” Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks stated. “I believe it (the Duke win) places us within the higher echelon and it’s not far-fetched to consider it. We’re proper on the cusp of being a top-10 group.

“In all probability everyone is aware of who’s the favourite proper now, and I believe there’s a variety of groups after that, that anybody can get there. I believe that we’ve put ourselves in that place that we are able to get there and something can occur. … The sky’s the restrict for us. I actually consider that. I do know lots of people say that, however I don’t really feel like there’s a group on the market that we are able to’t go compete with.”

Celeste Taylor scored 12 factors for the Blue Devils (22-4, 12-3), who had their four-game profitable streak halted.

ACC-leading Duke got here into the sport main the convention in scoring protection (50.2 factors per sport), however the Hokies scored 51 via three quarters and likewise performed stifling protection, holding Duke to only one area objective within the second quarter on the way in which to a 19-point halftime lead.

Virginia Tech put issues away in the beginning of the second half, scoring the primary seven factors and increasing its result in 26 factors. Duke couldn’t get any shut than 16 factors the remainder of the way in which.

“After we play with confidence and once we actually give attention to protection and convey power on protection, that’s once we’re the perfect,” Kitley stated. “I believe there’s nobody we are able to’t beat.”

Kitley shot 8 for 18 from the ground and grabbed 11 rebounds. Amoore had 4 3-pointers and shot 8 for 18 from the ground.

Duke shot simply 34% (16 of 47) and was outrebounded 41-23.

“These video games in our league are revelatory while you win and while you lose,” Duke coach Kara Lawson stated. “You be taught loads about your self. And also you find out about the place your shortcomings are. After which you possibly can determine as a group like, are we going to be trustworthy about our shortcomings and work to repair them? Or are you simply going to form of attempt to bury them and hope they don’t come up in video games shifting ahead? And so, we had a variety of shortcomings tonight, and we’ve set to work on these to enhance.”

TIP-INS

Duke: The Blue Devils performed arguably their worst sport of the season, however nonetheless sit atop the ACC standings heading into the ultimate week of the common season. The Blue Devils stay in place to clinch their first ACC regular-season championship since 2012-13.

Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech might declare the ACC’s regular-season crown, however wants some assist. Regardless, the Hokies are effectively on their approach to receiving a double bye on the convention event and a attainable prime 4 seeding on the NCAA Match.

“The good factor with this group is that there’s a greater image, however we’re not in search of it proper now,” Brooks stated. “They’re targeted on one sport at a time.”

UP NEXT

Duke: The Blue Devils play at Virginia on Sunday.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies host NC State on Sunday.

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AP girls’s faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25