GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – Georgia Amoore scored 23 of her 27 points in the second half for her 15th 20-point game this season, as short-handed No. 11 Virginia Tech beat Miami 55-47 on Friday to advance to the ACC Tournament semifinals for the third straight year.
Top-seeded Virginia Tech (24-6), which hadn't played since Sunday, moves on to play fourth-seeded and nationally ranked No. 14 Notre Dame (24-6) at noon on Saturday. The Hokies dropped a 71-58 contest at Notre Dame on Feb. 29.
Virginia Tech is without three-time ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley, who will miss this year’s tournament due to a lower-body injury.
Amoore took over in the second half. She scored eight of Virginia Tech’s 11 points in the third quarter, including a long jumper from the corner with 43 seconds left and a layup just before the buzzer to extend the lead to 36-33.
Virginia Tech scored six straight points by making a basket on three straight possessions to take a 45-37 lead. After ninth-seeded Miami sank its first 3-pointer in 14 attempts with 2:13 left, Amoore weaved through three defenders and made a tough layup for Virginia Tech's fourth straight basket.
Miami turned it over at 1:32 and Amoore made two free throws for a nine-point lead. Amoore added four free throws after Miami coach Katie Meier was called for a technical foul to extend it to 53-42.
Clara Strack, a 6-foot-5 freshman, filled in for Kitley down low with 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 27 minutes for Virginia Tech.
Jasmyne Roberts scored 12 points and Shayeann Day-Wilson added 11 for Miami (19-12). Ja’Leah Williams grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds.
Each team shot just 34.5 percent in the first half, but Virginia Tech led 25-20 after making 3-of-17 from 3-point range, while Miami missed all six attempts from distance.
Of Note
- Virginia Tech reaches the ACC Tournament semifinals for the third consecutive year. The Hokies had never advanced past the quarterfinal round prior to 2022.
- The Hokies are now 13-18 in the ACC tournament with seven of those wins coming over the last three seasons.
- Virginia Tech is 29-7 over the past four years in games that Amoore has scored 20 points or more, including 11-4 this season.
- Miami is now 14-20 all-time in the ACC Tournament, including 3-7 in the quarterfinals.