Georgia Amoore leads Virginia Tech women's basketball to a huge win over Syracuse

It's safe to say that Sunday's ACC road game at No. 22 Syracuse was a road test that the Virginia Tech women's basketball team needed to pass. Why? It's simple actually. Winning on the road in the ACC is not easy in men's or women's basketball as the Hokies have found out, losing their last two games at Florida State and Duke.

Syracuse entered the game 11-0 at the JMA Dome this season, 17-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play after winning Thursday night at Notre Dame to complete a season sweep of the Irish. To make matters even tougher for No. 19 Virginia Tech, two-time ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley had her worst offensive game of the season and was a non-factor. Usually that spells trouble, but not with Georgia Amoore.

With Kitley struggling offensively and in foul trouble, her teammate put the team on her back and carried them to a 13-point road win where they took the lead early in the first quarter and never relinquished the lead despite the Orange making several runs at them throughout the game. Amoore finished the game with 29 points, four rebounds and three assists for Virginia Tech. Here are some takeaways after the Hokies improved to 16-4 overall and 7-2 in the ACC, while the Orange fell to 17-3 overall.

* The only thing that slowed down Amoore was foul trouble. She had 13 first-quarter points, including Virginia Tech's first 11, but went to the bench with foul trouble for the rest of the half. She returned for the second half and scored 16 points and had her normal calming presence. Without her and Kitley's struggles, this would have been a long afternoon for the Hokies.

* Mitlda Ekh made some huge 3-pointers at key times for Virginia Tech and finished with 14 points. Cayla King finished with 13 points on four made 3-pointers and hit the biggest one in the fourth quarter to give Virginia Tech a 65-57 lead after Syracuse closed within five points.

* Carleigh Wenzel had a big first half for the Hokies in the absence of Amoore because of fouls. She had two big layups and a pair of free throws to help Virginia Tech take a 36-32 lead into halftime. She also had four assists and four rebounds.

* Olivia Summiel only scored five points, but it was her work on the defensive end where she collected nine of her 12 rebounds, and her one 3-pointer in the game came early in the third quarter to snap an Orange run. Clara Stack, who is from nearby Buffalo, had two points, but six rebounds and two blocks.

* Kitley finished with nine rebounds, and six points and was 3-for-13 from the field. She turned the ball over five times and picked up four fouls. Expect her to have a big bounce-back game Thursday night at home.

* Syracuse hung around but could never take the lead in the second half, but it felt like they missed a big opportunity in the fourth quarter. They were in the bonus with almost seven minutes left in the game but never took full advantage. They settled from jump shots at a time instead of continuing to go to the basket where they could get to the foul line. They only shot 17 free throws in the game, but the chances were there for more.

Virginia Tech returns home to host Virginia Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum and the Cavaliers will be coming in off an 81-66 upset at home over No. 20 North Carolina Sunday. After that, the Hokies will have road games at North Carolina and North Carolina State.