Virginia Tech picks up huge statement win at Louisville

Sitting on top of the ACC women's basketball standings and on an eight-game winning streak, 12th-ranked Virginia Tech faced another big road test at No. 18 Louisville on Sunday afternoon. In a game that has huge implications for the ACC Tournament early next month, the Hokies continued to roll along with another Top 25 road victory.

Behind the duo of Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore who both had double-doubles, Virginia Tech trailed just once at 2-0 and after a three-point play from Kitley got them on the board, they never trailed again with an impressive performance away from Blacksburg. Here are some big takeaways after the Hokies improved to 22-4 overall and 13-2 in the ACC with just three regular-season games remaining. Louisville dropped to 21-6 overall and 10-4 in the ACC and now had a lot of work to do to get back into the top four by the end of the season to get a double-bye in the conference tournament.

• First and foremost, the Hokies were in a rhythm all afternoon on offense. They shot 65% from the field, 43% from behind the arc, and made eight on nine free throws. On the defensive end, they held the Cardinals to 42% shooting from the floor, they made just four of their 16 3-point attempts and never were able to get into a rhythm themselves. Pretty impressive road performance from Virginia Tech.
• Kitley finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds on 12-of-16 shooting, while Amoore had 23 points and 10 assists on 9-of-11 shooting. Whenever Louisville started to get some momentum or look to make a run, Kitley and Amoore would come up with huge baskets. Kitley's shot was on point all afternoon.
• Much has been made lately of the struggles of Cayla King, but the senior guard stepped up against the Cardinals. She made three 3-pointers, cracked the 1,000-point plateau for her career, and had five rebounds and four assists while playing very good defense. If they can get her going offensively consistently, watch out.
• Carleigh Wenzel off the bench played some big minutes and finished with eight points and three rebounds. She was active on the defensive end and did a nice job of closing out on shooters.
• Matilda Ekh had 12 points and shot 5-for-7 from the field, but it was the basket at the end of the third quarter that was big. With two seconds remaining, Amoore took the ball out under the basket and Louisville took away Kitley. Ekh's defender turned her back and she cut down the lane for a layup before the buzzer for a 70-54 lead entering the fourth.
• You would never know it without looking it up, but Virginia Tech turned the ball over 14 times, a lot against pressure from the Cardinals who began trapping Amoore in the second half. Louisville had zero points off the 14 Hokies' turnovers, which is a stunning stat.

Virginia Tech gets the week off and return to Cassell Coliseum for their final regular season game next Sunday against North Carolina. If they keep winning, there is a very good chance that they host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in mid-March.