It feels like women’s college basketball has been littered with buzzer-beaters this year, from Diamond Miller giving Maryland an early season win over Notre Dame, to Olivia Miles coming through in crunch time for the Irish last week against Louisville.
On Thursday, it was Elizabeth Kitley’s turn.
Ninth-ranked Virginia Tech was on the road in Chapel Hill taking on the No. 22 Tar Heels, who were boosted by the return of Alyssa Ustby.
The game was tied 59-59 with 2.1 seconds remaining. And it seemed like everyone knew the ball was going to Kitley, the 6-foot-6 reigning ACC Player of the Year.
Well, everyone except for UNC’s defense.
Kitley broke away from coverage and caught the inbounds pass just outside the painted area, then – pretty much wide-open – turned and fired a mid-range shot.
The ball fell through the hoop, the buzzer sounded, and Kitley skipped towards midcourt. Her teammates mobbed her, and her dad – former Wake Forest center Ralph Kitley – pumped his fist from the stands.
IM HYPEEEEEEE https://t.co/YCd14uxnDW
— Liz Kitley (@elizabethkitley) February 24, 2023
🗣️ HELL YEAH pic.twitter.com/5AAlMXnb9I
— Virginia Tech Women's Basketball (@HokiesWBB) February 24, 2023
Kitley scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory, but her game-winner was historically notable for the Hokies:
- It gave Virginia Tech its 13th ACC win of the season, which matches a program record.
- It was the seventh straight ACC victory for the Hokies, which is the best the best streak in program history.
- The win was the 23rd overall of the regular season for the Hokies, matching a program record set in 1999.
- Locked the Hokies into the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament, securing them a double-bye.
The victory also boosted Virginia Tech’s NCAA Tournament resume, likely making them a lock to host games during the tournament’s first weekend. In Thursday night’s Top 16 reveal by the NCAA committee, the Hokies were slated with the eighth-overall seed – the fourth-highest ranked No. 2 seed.
Virginia Tech came into this season with big expectations after adding All-ACC forward Taylor Soule and former Ann Meyers Drysdale award-winner Ashley Owusu through the transfer portal. Owusu has battled injuries this season though and has largely been a non-factor, but it hasn’t mattered all that much because Kitley, Soule, Georgia Amoore and the rest of the Hokies have stepped up to play some of their best basketball.
Kitley is averaging career-bests in scoring and rebounding this season with 18.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She’s ninth in the nation in 2-pointers made per game with 7.4, and 15th nationally in blocks per game with 2.3. She’s also ninth in the country in win shares with 9.3.
And before her buzzer-beater on Thursday, she made another memorable shot against UNC, flushing an elbow jumper with about five minutes left to make her Virginia Tech’s all-time leading scorer in program history.
🚨NEW ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER! 🚨
Elizabeth Kitley cements herself as a Hokie legend! 🦃@HokiesWBB | @elizabethkitley pic.twitter.com/V4MGTKQwAc
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) February 24, 2023
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MACHINE THAT IS ELIZABETH KITLEY 🫡 @elizabethkitley
— Aisha Sheppard (@____blessed2) February 24, 2023
Kitley broke former teammate Aisha Sheppard’s record in 46 less games, too.
Simply put, Kitley is playing like an All-American and certainly like someone who could retain her ACC Player of the Year honors.
