UNC women’s basketball falls to Virginia Tech, 87-80, in ACC tournament quarterfinal
The fourth quarter between UNC and Virginia Tech had it all — so much so that the basketball gods saw fit to give fans more time to savor the experience.
Georgia Amoore drove to the lane with the game tied and scored with 2.3 seconds remaining, drawing the foul in the process. Amoore knocked down the free throw, and it looked like the Hokies were going to steal one.
But Carolina guard Eva Hodgson forced overtime with a 3 at the buzzer.
In the extra period, Virginia Tech did most of its damage from the line. It was enough to escape with a 87-80 win. The Hokies attempted 15 free throws in overtime, hitting 13 of them.
That was the difference as the Heels shot 4-12 from the field in OT.
Sheppard and Amoore combined for 44 points in the win. Kayana Traylor added 19. Virginia Tech played all but 11 minutes without ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley, who left with a shoulder injury in the first half.
Kelly and Ustby added 18 each for UNC.
“I think the biggest help is that the whole March mentality of like the survive and advance, you know, you kind of don’t -- unfortunately you don’t really get it until it hits you,” Heels coach Courtney Banghart said. “This group has learned that when you’re not good enough, it’s over. We hope this is a good ignition as we get into the big dance here soon.”
Fans got their money’s worth as the lead changed three times in overtime. Virginia Tech got a little breathing room after one free throw from D’asia Gregg and two more Aisha Sheppard.
That extended the Tech lead to four.
Amoore, the hero of regulation, was then fouled attempting a three. She hit all three, pushing the Virginia Tech lead to 81-74.
Back and forth in regulation
Virginia Tech took its first lead of the game in the third quarter on a three from Kayana Traylor. The Hokies went ahead by as many as five. Carolina closed the gap when Deja Kelly hit a three to end the third, making it a two-point Virginia Tech lead.
After dominating the first half offensively, the Heels shot 5-12 (41%) from the field in the third. Virginia Tech, the third best three-point shooting team in the ACC, finally got it going from deep, hitting three threes. Amoore connected on two of those.
The fourth quarter started off sloppy for both sides, as they missed a combined six shots in the opening minutes.
After that, the two teams traded baskets. Amoore hit a jumper to put the Hokies up three, but Carolina guard Hodgson tied the game with a three.
Kelly put UNC back in front with one free throw, but Aisha Sheppard put Virginia Tech back ahead by two. That didn’t last long as Kelly tied the game with a jumper, followed by a layup from Kennedy Todd-Williams that put the Heels ahead by one. Before the UNC fans could even sit down from celebrating that bucket, Amoore hit another three to put Virginia Tech back in front.
“I think they started to capitalize on their shots that we let them have,” Kelly said. “Sheppard and Amoore hit some really big shots, really timely shots. Sheppard is a really good player, so she found her openings, and that allowed them to go on their run.”
UNC (23-6) came into game winners of three straight and six of its past seven. The Heels’ last loss came to Virginia Tech on Feb. 13.
Banghart is now 0-3 in the ACC Tournament. The Heels, ranked No. 16, will now await their NCAA tournament fate.
“I think this is a great learning opportunity,” Banghart said. “As I told them in the locker room, March is full of really good players, and your effort is no longer enough. That’s kind of why you get to March, teams that are in this position.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 1:26 PM.
