Virginia Tech women slide down AP Top 25 poll after splitting two games last week

After splitting a pair of games last week, the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team saw a drop in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll Monday. Last week the Hokies were ranked No. 14, but after losing to Duke and beating Clemson, they dropped to No. 19.

Against Duke, Virginia Tech jumped out to an 11-0 lead, but the Blue Devils slowly took over the game at both ends of the floor. In the third quarter, Georgia Amoore was elbowed in the head diving for a loose ball and didn’t return. She missed the game against the Tigers at Cassell Coliseum Sunday and was not even in the arena and at home resting.

Speaking of Clemson, the Hokies had another player leave the game in the fourth quarter because of an injury. Guard Cayla King collided with a Tigers player at the defensive foul line and had to be carried off the court during a timeout. She did return to the bench before the game ended, but did not go back in.

This week, Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech on Thursday, then travels to Syracuse Sunday afternoon to play the Orange who are 6-1 in ACC play. Syracuse checked in at No. 22 in the poll, one spot ahead of Florida State who they beat last week. North Carolina, which just beat Louisville Sunday checks in at No. 20 and the Cardinals are No. 18, one spot ahead of the Hokies. North Carolina State is No. 7 and Notre Dame is No. 15 rounding out the ACC teams ranked.

The key going forward for Virginia Tech is getting Amoore and King back healthy, but if not, Carleigh Wenzel and Samyha Suffren can run the point, neither player is going to replace her scoring and assists, but with the team the Hokies have, they just need to do what they can control.