Virginia Tech Basketball: Elizabeth Kitley puts on clinic in rout of High Point

The much anticipated 2023-24 Virginia Tech women’s basketball season got under Monday night at Cassell Coliseum against High Point in a non-conference game. The Hokies, fresh off an ACC Tournament Championship and a trip to the Final Four, begin the season ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll and the visiting Panthers got a first-hand look at Elizabeth Kitley and how tough it is going to be guard her this season.

Kitley put on an offensive clinic and a defensive clinic against High Point in a Hokies-dominating 94-55 victory.

Elizabeth Kitley records double-double vs. High Point

The matchup for the Panthers was a tough one before the game even started. Their tallest player is 6-foot-3 and was no match for the 6-for-6 Kitley. Right from the first basket of the game, the two-time reigning ACC Player of the Year scored in many different ways. She was able to score at the basket, score off offensive rebounds, pass against double teams to open teammates, and knock down mid-range jumpers.

In the first quarter alone, she was perfect 6-for-6 from the field and finished with 14 points after two free throws. In three-quarters of action, the Summerfield, North Carolina native had 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting and nine rebounds, two blocks, and two assists. Early in the third quarter, she made a turnaround fade away and was fouled and completed the three-point play.

On the defensive end, she had six rebounds and her presence in the paint and around the basket altered multiple shots for High Point. There were two possessions in the first half where the Panthers settled for contested 3-pointers rather than trying to get to the basket. The Kitley factor was in full effect on both ends.

Matilda Ekh had 15 points for the Hokies, while Georgia Amoore and Cayla King each had 14 for head coach Kenny Brooks. Virginia Tech doesn’t get much time off as they head to Charlotte Thursday night to play No. 3 Iowa at the Spectrum Center and their dynamic scorer Caitlin Clark in an early-season Top 10 showdown.