Virginia Tech earns first ACC crown with 75-67 win over Louisville

Virginia Tech Athletics picture.

Virginia Tech raced previous Louisville, 75-67, to say their first ACC Match title in program historical past on Sunday.

Georgia Amoore cleared the path for the Hokies with 25 factors, and was named match MVP, after scoring a tournament-best 14 3-pointers in three video games. Convention participant of the yr Elizabeth Kitley added 20 factors and Taylor Soule had 13.

Kenny Brooks, who turned the primary Black coach to win an ACC title, credited his gamers for his or her work ethic.

“I knew when these children and so they dedicated to us, I knew finally, we have been going to be taking part in for various issues and so they proved me proper and so they labored diligently on a regular basis,” he stated.

Because of the win, Tech is now projected to be a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Match, and have received their final 11 matchups. This specific win required them to resist nice strain from the Cardinals, on each offense and protection.

Louisville made a number of runs on the finish to make the sport shut, however at all times, there was both Amoore or Kitley or Soule to get a bucket when their group wanted it. In the meantime, the Cardinals have been depending on Chrislyn Carr (27 factors), Hailey Van Lith (12 factors) and Olivia Cochran (11 factors) respectively, regardless that Van Lith shot 24 % from the sphere.

Up subsequent for not simply these two groups, however your entire ACC is Choice Sunday subsequent weekend.

In Saturday’s semifinals, the third time was the appeal for Louisville, as they lastly beat Notre Dame, 64-38, after dropping to them twice up to now two weeks by a mixed 5 factors. Hailey Van Lith as soon as once more led the best way for the Cardinals with 15 factors, and was supported by Olivia Cochran (12 factors), Chirslyn Carr (10 factors) and Mykasa Robinson (10 factors).

The Irish had simply seven discipline objectives within the first half and noticed 4 gamers with no less than three fouls: Sonia Citron, Maddy Westbeld, KK Bransford and Lauren Ebo. Citron, particularly, was double-teamed each time she introduced the ball up the courtroom as their major ball handler, with Olivia Miles nonetheless injured.

“They got here out clearly denying Sonia and have been double-teaming and put all their greatest defenders on her,” Westbeld stated. “I might simply say that they have been very strategic in the best way that they got here out and performed.”

The relentless Louisville protection compelled Notre Dame into simply 31.4 % general taking pictures and three quarters of seven, 8 and 9 factors respectively. Ultimately, Van Lith heated up with 11 factors within the second half, which allowed for her group to drag away.

“My coaches and my teammates have been telling me to maintain taking pictures, so I simply saved attending to the identical spots I received to within the first half,” Van Lith stated. “It wasn’t actually a unique mentality or something. I saved the identical mindset.”

Within the different semifinal match, Virginia Tech overcame a gradual begin to bury Duke, 58-37. Georgia Amoore was liable for over 40 % of the Hokies’ factors with 24, to associate with 7 assists.

Regardless that ACC participant of the yr Elizabeth Kitley scored simply 8 factors, her affect was nonetheless big, because the Blue Devils targeted a lot of their consideration on slowing her down with a number of defenders – together with Kennedy Brown – within the paint that it allowed for the perimeter to be open for Amoore in addition to Cayla King (7 factors).

“We weren’t as disciplined as we wanted to be in that first half and because of this, they received open appears to be like and while you give them open appears to be like, they’re most likely the most effective group within the league in making you pay for it,” Duke coach Kara Lawson stated.

The sport was shut at first, as Virginia Tech led 13-9 on the finish of the primary quarter and led 19-18 on the 6:18 mark of the second quarter, however after that, they launched into a 17-0 run to enter halftime main 36-18. It was all concerning the 3-ball for each groups, as Duke saved lacking them and Amoore was making them.

Issues remained the identical within the second half, because the Blue Devils by no means have been capable of minimize the deficit all the way down to single digits, and Amoore made six 3-pointers. It was their tenth straight win – their final being to the Blue Devils earlier within the season.

“It wasn’t fairly on a regular basis, however I feel that’s the best way that they made the sport, however we had some actually good performances and a really balanced assault,” Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks stated.