Virginia Tech women gear up for NC State showdown with win over Wake Forest

Since the Virginia Tech women's basketball team opened ACC play with a 91-41 rout of Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum, a lot of the talk has been about the Hokies' upcoming showdown at home this coming Sunday against third-ranked North Carolina State. Before the Hokies tip-off against the Wolfpack, there was a little business they had to tend to in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

On paper it looked like a mismatch, but it was far from that. Wake Forest battled the Hokies toe-to-toe and made them earn everything for 40 minutes before Virginia Tech was able to win by 11 points in a game that looked like they were looking ahead to the Wolfpack.

The Hokies led 19-15 after the first quarter and used a 24-11 second quarter to build a 43-26 halftime lead. Rose Micheaux had six points in the opening half and six rebounds, three on the offensive end that led to baskets. Elizabeth Kitley led Tech with 15 first-half points, but she was not the leading scorer at the break. Elise Williams kept the Demon Deacons in the game with 18 first-half points, including 12 of the 15 first-quarter Wake Forest points.

In the second half, Virginia Tech struggled to do something that they have had little trouble with this season, getting stops on the defensive end. Wake Forest outscored the Hokies, 29-21, in the third quarter with Williams scoring six points. Micheaux had seven points in the quarter for coach Kenny Brooks to keep the Hokies in front, 64-55.

In the fourth quarter, Virginia Tech's star players took over. Kitley had eight points in the quarter, including two big baskets in the final three minutes and point guard Georgia Amoore made a running layup with 2:57 remaining to extend the Hokies lead to 74-66.

For the game, Kitley led Virginia Tech with 27 points and 12 rebounds for her 66th career double-double. Amore had 20 points and 10 assists and Micheaux finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Matilda Ehk had 11 points for the Hokies. Williams paced Wake Forest with 29 points in the loss.

No. 13 Virginia Tech now can turn their full attention to the early-season showdown with NC State on Sunday at Cassell Coliseum.