2024-03-04 01:32:50
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kymora Johnson scored 21 points and had a key steal and layup with just over a minute to play as Virginia held on to beat No. 5 Virginia Tech 80-75 on Sunday night in a game in which Hokies star Elizabeth Kitley missed the final 16 minutes due to injury.
Kitley, a 6-foot-6 senior center and two-time Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, was injured and left the game following being fouled making a tying layup with 6:05 left in the third period. She did not return and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in 22 minutes. There was no immediate word on the extent of Kitley’s injury.
Johnson also had eight assists for the Cavaliers (15-14, 7-11), who ended a five-game losing streak once morest their rivals before a raucous crowd. Camryn Taylor added 17 points and Paris Clark 16 for Virginia.
Georgia Amoore stepped up in Kitley’s absence, finishing with 39 points and eight 3-pointers for the Hokies (23-6, 14-4).
The game was tied at 72 before London Clarkson scored, Johnson followed with a steal and layup and Clark hit a pair of free throws for Virginia, making it 78-72. A three-point play by Amoore made it a three-point game, but her next try resulted in a long rebound that Johnson ran down in a mad scramble. Sam Brunelle clinched it with a pair of free throws.
With the victory, Virginia won one more ACC game in the regular season than it had in the last three seasons combined.
Clark helped fuel a 15-4 run that gave the Cavaliers a 34-29 lead at the half. Clark scored eight in the spurt, including a 3-pointer to barely beat the shot clock buzzer.
BIG PICTURE
Virginia Tech: Virginia ran a promotion that offered each fan a hot dog and soft drink for $5. It’s a promotion that has produced some of the largest crowds in Virginia women’s basketball history, and did once more, but this gathering had a large and loud contingent of Hokies fans, making it almost as loud when the visitors did something as the Cavaliers.
Virginia: The Cavaliers waited until following the game to honor seniors Brunelle, Clarkson, Taylor Lauterbach, Kaydan Lawson and Taylor for Senior Night.
UP NEXT
Both teams will play in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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