More From Virginia | More From Georgia Tech | Highlights | Bracket | Quotes | Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Aliyah Huland El scored 19 points and seventh-seeded Virginia rallied to defeat 10th-seeded Georgia Tech 60-58 on Thursday night in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
 
The Cavaliers (18-12) advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals against second-seeded and fifth-ranked Notre Dame after Francesca Pan missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
 
Pan, who scored 25 points, had Tech on top 53-45 after a pair of free throws two minutes into the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers then reeled off the next 10 points, five from Dominique Toussaint, and took its first lead, 55-53, on a Huland El 3-pointer at 5:13.
 
Kierra Fletcher’s 3-point play put the Yellow Jackets (18-13) back on top with 3:52 to go, before Lauren Moses scored twice for Virginia for a 59-56 lead with just under a minute to play. Fletcher made it a one-point game 35.6 seconds remaining.
 
Virginia ran the clock down before both teams had quick turnovers, the Cavs getting ball back when Moses drew a charge with 3.5 seconds remaining. Jocelyn Willoughby then made one free throw to give Tech a final chance.
 
Toussaint had 14 points and Moses 12 for Virginia.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: #7 Virginia 60, #10 Georgia Tech 58
Records: Virginia 18-12; Georgia Tech 18-13
Location: Greensboro Coliseum; Greensboro, N.C.
Attendance: N/A
Georgia Tech starters: Brown, Cubaj, Pan, Fletcher, Peresson
Virginia Starters: Tinsley, Toussaint, Willoughby, Huland El, Aiyeotan
 
NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS
- Virginia trailed by nine points late in the third period and by eight points entering the final quarter but outscored the Yellow Jackets 20-10 in the final 10 minutes … The Cavaliers’ Lauren Moses (12 total points) twice hit layups in the fading minutes, once on a pass from J’Kyra Brown, and again on a rebound follow shot.
- Aliyah Huland El led Virginia with 19 points, two less than her season high (21 at Georgia Tech on Jan. 28) … Tonight marked her first double-figure scoring game since she scored 13 in a loss at Florida State on Feb. 8.
- Virginia improved to 4-1 this season in games decided by three points or less, and 1-1 in one-point games.
- Georgia Tech’s Francesca Pan, who got a decent look at a 3-point shot that would have won the game the buzzer, led all scorers with 25 points – one off her career high.
- Virginia improved to 37-37 all-time in the ACC Tournament and to 2-3 in second-round games.
- Georgia Tech is now 18-39 all-time in ACC Tournament play, 2-3 in the second round.
- The Cavaliers are 2-0 against the Yellow Jackets this season after winning the January meeting between the teams in Atlanta, 62-56.
 
TEAM LEADERS
Georgia Tech
Points: Francesca Pan 25
Rebounds: Kierra Fletcher 7
Assists: Kierra Fletcher 4
 
Virginia
Points: Aliyah Huland El 19
Rebounds: Lauren Moses 9
Assists: Dominique Toussaint 5
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Halftime: Georgia Tech, 34-29
Ties: 4
Lead Changes: 3
Largest Lead: Virginia by 3, 4th – 0:53; Georgia Tech by 9, 3rd – 3:37
Georgia Tech led for: 34:27
Virginia led for: 4:05