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No. 1 seed Virginia Tech women turn up defensive pressure, coast to first-round victory in NCAA Tournament

By Jimmy Robertson
Associated Press
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Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore drives past Chattanooga guard Sigrun Olafsdottir during a first-round NCAA Women's Tournament game Friday in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore drives past Chattanooga guard Sigrun Olafsdottir during a first-round NCAA Women's Tournament game Friday in Blacksburg. (Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

BLACKSBURG — Georgia Amoore scored 22 points, Elizabeth Kitley added 12 and top-seeded Virginia Tech rolled to a 58-33 victory over No. 16 seed Chattanooga on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s Seattle Region.

Kitley added 14 rebounds while Amoore hit five 3-pointers for the Hokies (28-4), who won their 12th consecutive game.

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Yazz Wazeerud-Din and Raven Thompson led Chattanooga (20-13) with 10 points each. The Hokies held the Moccasins to their lowest point total of the season.

Virginia Tech, which is making its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and first as a No. 1 seed, never trailed before a crowd of 8,925 at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies led by one late in the first quarter, but used a 17-0 run bridging the first and second quarters to pull away. Amoore scored eight points in that run.

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Virginia Tech's Kayana Traylor tips the ball away from Chattanooga's Yazz Wazeerud-Din during Friday's NCAA Tournament game in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech's Kayana Traylor tips the ball away from Chattanooga's Yazz Wazeerud-Din during Friday's NCAA Tournament game in Blacksburg. (Matt Gentry/AP)

Chattanooga, which was making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017, struggled against an aggressive Virginia Tech defense. The Moccasins made just six field goals in the first half and shot 28.6% (14 of 49) for the game.

Kayana Traylor had 12 points and Taylor Soule finished with 10 for the Hokies, who shot 47.9% (23 of 48).

Tip-ins

Chattanooga: The Moccasins had a great season under first-year coach Shawn Poppie, winning 20 games and taking the Southern Conference Tournament championship. Before taking over, he was an assistant for Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech. The Mocs should return most of their roster heading into next season and will be a contender to win the league title again.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies’ offense gets the accolades, but their defense has been their strength in their 12-game winning streak. They have held eight consecutive opponents to under 41% shooting from the floor and 11 of 12.

Up next

Virginia Tech: The Hokies will take on South Dakota State on Sunday. The ninth-seeded Jackrabbits overcame eighth-seeded Southern California 62-57 in overtime in Friday’s second game at Cassell Coliseum.

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