Louisville Falls to Virginia Tech for First Home Loss of Season

The Cardinals had previously been 13-0 this season at the KFC Yum! Center this season.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore each recorded double-doubles and No. 12 Virginia Tech beat 18th-ranked Louisville 86-70 on Sunday.

Kitley scored 26 points shooting 12 of 16 and grabbed 13 rebounds while Amoore scored 23 points shooting 9 of 11 — including 3 of 4 from 3-point range — and distributed 10 assists.

Matilda Ekh contributed 12 points, shooting 5 for 7, for Virginia Tech which finished shooting 65.4% (34 of 52), including 43.5% (10 of 23) from 3-point range.

The Hokies’ 65.4% shooting mark represents a program best in ACC play. Virginia Tech’s ninth-straight win marks another program best.

Kiki Jefferson scored 19 points, reserve Jayda Curry 13 and Nyla Harris and Nina Rickards 10 apiece for Louisville (21-6, 11-4 ACC).

Kitley scored nine of Virginia Tech’s first 11 points to set the Hokies’ (22-4, 13-2) offensive tone. Merissah Russell’s jump shot brought the Cardinals within 11-9 with 2:19 left before the end of the first quarter, but the Hokies closed the quarter with a 9-4 blitz to go up 20-13.

Ekh started the second with consecutive 3s for a 26-13 advantage and the Hokies stayed ahead by double digits through the remainder.

The Hokies shot 63.3% (19 of 30), including 46.7% (7 of 15) from beyond the arc in the first half. Kitley nearly had a double-double before the break with 15 points and eight rebounds as Virginia Tech built a 48-35 lead at intermission.

Louisville travels to Georgia Tech on Thursday. Virginia Tech hosts North Carolina on Feb. 25.

(Photo of Sydney Taylor, Liz Kitley: Clare Grant - Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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