CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia Tech graduate center Elizabeth Kitley has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Virginia guard Kymora Johnson earned Rookie of the Week honors. Kitley earned her sixth Player of the Week honor this season, tying the conference record, while Johnson claimed her second Rookie of the Week nod.
ACC women’s basketball weekly awards are voted on by the league’s Blue Ribbon Panel.
Kitley, who played in her final regular-season game inside Cassell Coliseum, recorded a game-high 34 points to pace Virginia Tech to a win over North Carolina which sealed at least a share of the ACC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Summerfield, North Carolina, native finished 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) from the field and 12-for-14 from the free throw line, as she led the Hokies to their 800th win in program history. Kitley ties former Duke standout Alana Beard with six ACC Player of the Week awards in a single season, as Beard accomplished the feat twice during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.
Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in a pair of conference victories over Miami and Louisville. In her 36 minutes against the Hurricanes, the Charlottesville, Virginia, native knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 21 points to pace UVA and notch her seventh 20-point effort of the season. On Sunday, the freshman scored 18 points with six rebounds and six assists to help the Cavaliers earn their first victory at Louisville in program history, knocking off the 20th-ranked Cardinals. It marked Virginia’s third win over a nationally-ranked ACC team this season.
Five ACC teams are ranked in the latest Associated Press (AP) Poll, headlined by Virginia Tech climbing three spots to No. 5, its highest ranking this season. NC State is No. 12, Notre Dame gained two spots to No. 17, Syracuse is No. 19 and Louisville is No. 22. Duke, North Carolina and Florida State are receiving votes.
The ACC Women’s Basketball regular season ends this week, with the bracket for the 2024 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament will be announced Sunday evening. A pair of ranked matchups headline Thursday’s slate, as No. 5 Virginia Tech heads to No. 12 Notre Dame at 7 p.m. on ESPN, while No. 19 Syracuse visits No. 12 NC State for a 7 p.m. tipoff on ACC Network Extra.
2023-24 ACC Player of the Week Honors
Nov. 13 – Saniya Rivers, NC State
Nov. 20 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Nov. 27 – Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Dec. 4 – Liatu King, Pitt
Dec. 11 – Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech
Dec. 18 – Amari Robinson, Clemson
Dec. 26 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Jan. 2 – Ta'Niya Latson, Florida State
Jan. 8 – Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Jan. 15 – Sara Bejedi, Florida State
Jan. 22 – Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
Jan. 29 – Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
Feb. 5 – Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse & Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Feb. 12 – Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Feb. 19 – Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Feb. 26 – Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
2023-24 ACC Rookie of the Week Honors
Nov. 13 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Nov. 20 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Nov. 27 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Dec. 4 – Alyssa Latham, Syracuse
Dec. 11 – Zoe Brooks, NC State
Dec. 18 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Dec. 26 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Jan. 2 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Jan. 8 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Jan. 15 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Jan. 22 – Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Jan. 29 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Feb. 5 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Feb. 12 – Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Feb. 19 – Rusne Augustinaite, Georgia Tech
Feb. 26 – Kymora Johnson, Virginia