By Marty Gordon
Because of deadline for this newspaper, the Virginia Tech women either stumbled on the cha-cha Monday night against Ohio State or moved onto the NCAA Final Four. Already, the Lady Hokies have set a new standard for the ladies from Blacksburg and might have set a new standard for all sports teams at the university. The 1999 Tech football team’s unheralded, “unofficial” national championship loss to Florida State only rates closet to this success we have seen this basketball season.
In the rematch of the “battle of Bristol, Tech took a 73-64 win over Tennessee in the Sweet 16 side of the bracket. It would be great for a national championship, something the program, university and community needs. But if doesn’t happen, the Lady Hokies (30-4) have had a season to remember.
The characters rose to the top of the coffee cup against Tennessee. Guard Georgia Amoore dialed up a career-high 29 points, while Kayana Traylor and Elizabeth Kitley chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively. Kitley notched her 2,000th career point in the third quarter to become the fifth Virginia Tech basketball player (men’s or women’s) to eclipse the mark.
Tech finished at 42.6% from the floor while holding Tennessee to 40.3%. Perhaps more importantly, the Hokies won the battle of the boards, 38-36. Amoore distributed five of Tech’s 13 assists.
The contest had many mirrored images as Tech’s only other Sweet 16 appearance in 1999 was against Tennessee.
Tech is now 4-1 in the last five games against Tennessee. Tech is the only team in the Elite Eight that has not trailed in the NCAA Tournament this season as they won their 14th consecutive game. The 30 wins is a program record.
Kenny Brooks improves to 4-2 in NCAA Tournament games at the helm of the Hokies and his head coaching record now moves to 491-195.
Against Tennessee, Tech wore white uniforms for the 14th time this season. They are 14-0 in them. The win was the team’s seventh over a ranked opponent this season, extending another program record. The story of the year in sports in the area has to be what this team has accomplished this season. It might never be seen again. There is plenty of hopes that this is only the beginning, but that chapter is yet to be written.
