Virginia Tech women’s basketball sweeps Cayman Islands games

It was not easy for the ninth-ranked Virginia Tech women’s basketball team, but they were able to collect two wins in less than 24 hours at the Cayman Islands Classic Friday night and Saturday morning.

Friday night, the Hokies beat Kansas, 59-58, in their opening game against a Jayhawks team that returns four starters from a team that won the Women’s NIT last spring. It was a defensive battle between the teams and a Georiga Amoore 3-pointer was the final point of the night. Virginia Tech’s defense shut down Kansas in the final 2:58 after Amoore’s 3-pointer for the one-point win.

Amoore’s shot was huge, but senior center Elizabeth Kitley scored just over half of her team’s points with 31 and she added 15 rebounds and five blocks. The Hokies were outscored 11-9 in the fourth quarter but found a win to dig deep for a win with the defense down the stretch.

Virginia Tech got 14 points from Amoore and they finished with 15 assists on 22 made field goals against the Jayhawks. Hokies’ coach Kenny Brooks said that Kansas had a lot to do with the way his team played.

"“We had some unforced errors, and give them credit,” said Brooks. “They’re a very good basketball team, a championship-caliber basketball team. I think they’re a top-25 team. And to come away with the win, we’re very fortunate.”"

Saturday, the Hokies struggled with the Tulane Green Wave but were able to survive for a 76-70 victory in a game that saw multiple lead changes. Olivia Summiel was big off the bench for Brooks with 16 points including three treys with her biggest one late in the game to extend a 1-point lead to four. She also had eight rebounds.

Amoore had a team-high 24 points and seven assists, while Kitley had 18 points and eight rebounds. Cayla King also finished in double-figures 11 points as the Hokies improved to 5-1 with their two wins this weekend.

Next up for the Hokies is a Final Four rematch with No. 7 LSU on Wednesday night in Baton Rogue against the Tigers in the first ACC/SEC Challenge. This is the second Top 10 matchup for Virginia Tech in less than a month after they lost to Iowa on Nov. 9 in Charlotte. This is another good early-season test for the Hokies.