No. 21 Virginia Tech women advance to ACC quarterfinals

Updated Mar. 3, 2022 1:32 p.m. ET

Associated Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Aisha Sheppard scored 20 points, Elizabeth Kitley had 19 points and 10 rebounds and No. 21 Virginia Tech beat Clemson 82-60 on Thursday in the second round of the ACC tournament.

Fifth-seeded Virginia Tech advances to play No. 4 seed and 16th ranked North Carolina in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Hokies evened the season series on Feb. 13 with a 66-61 victory over then-No. 23 North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 71-46 on their court on Jan. 9.

Virginia Tech made its first six field goals and led 25-15 after one quarter before extending it to 53-30 at halftime, shooting 79% from the field. The Hokies had three players in double figures for their most post scored by halftime in an ACC tournament game.

The Hokies led by 30 points on a 3-pointer by Sheppard early in the third quarter. Sheppard made 7 of 11 field goals with four makes from distance, and Kitley, the ACC player of the year, only missed two of her 10 field goals as Virginia Tech shot 58.7%.

Georgia Amoore added 15 points for Virginia Tech (22-8). Starter Cayla King injured her ankle in the third quarter and was helped off the floor before later returning to the bench with ice wrapped around her right foot.

Delicia Washington, who scored 33 points in the opening round, had 19 points for Clemson (10-21). Amari Robinson and Kionna Gaines each added 11 points.

Clemson was 0 of 9 from 3-point range, while Virginia Tech made 9 of 19, and the teams combined to make 39 of 45 free throws.

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