Kitley makes history in style
Senior breaks Hokies’ scoring record, then hits winner at buzzer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Elizabeth Kitley capped a night when she set Virginia Tech’s career scoring record by hitting a jumper at the buzzer to lift the ninth-ranked Hokies past No. 22 North Carolina 61-59 Thursday night.
The 6-foot-6 senior finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a game played in her home state, the last basket coming with the Hokies (23-4, 13-4 ACC) locked in a tie game with 2.1 seconds left.
Cayla King inbounded to Kitley on the right side, where she had space to calmly launch a jumper while UNC’s Anya Poole tried to close on her. The shot dropped through the net, sending her skipping to midcourt to celebrate with her teammates in fast pursuit to mob her.
Kitley needed 16 points to tie the program scoring record of 1,883 points set by Aisha Sheppard just last year. She cracked that midway through the fourth quarter of a tight game, taking a feed from Georgia Amoore and hitting a midrange jumper over
Poole at the 5:18 mark to tie it at 49.
Kayana Traylor added 20 points for Virginia Tech, which overcame an awful shooting start and a season-high 20 turnovers to win its seventh straight game.
Deja Kelly scored 18 points to lead the Tar Heels (19-9, 10-7), including a go-ahead jumper with 12.2 seconds left. The ball rattled around the rim before dropping through the net for a 58-57 lead.
King followed by calmly hitting two free throws to put the Hokies back in front with 9.1 seconds left. UNC’s Alyssa Ustby was fouled on a shot, banked in a free throw to tie the game at 59, but missed the second free throw to set up Kitley’s jumper.