SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ENDS HISTORIC SEASON WITH FINAL FOUR LOSS

Sam Mostow | Assistant Sports Editor

The Hokies ended their best-ever season in the national semifinals.

After three quarters, Virginia Tech looked triumphant in their very first Final Four. They led No. 3 LSU, 59–50, seemingly cruising to their first national championship game appearance in program history.

Then came the fourth quarter, when the Tigers (33–2) launched past the Hokies (31–5), winning 79–72 and outscoring their opponents in the quarter, 29–13.

The Hokies came into Friday night’s contest winners of 15 consecutive games, spanning across the regular season, ACC Tournament, and NCAA Tournament. Until the Final Four, Tech had not lost since Jan. 26.

“I’m extremely proud of this group, not only because of what they accomplished on the court, but how they conduct themselves on the court, how they conduct themselves in our community, and this is the best year of basketball that I’ve ever had in my life,” said Virginia Tech Head Coach Kenny Brooks.

For the first time in recent memory, Virginia Tech trailed after the first quarter against LSU. The Hokies shot 25% from the floor in the first period, including 11% from behind the three-point arc. Point guard Georgia Amoore, the Hokies’ best sharpshooter, missed her first four three-point attempts.

The turning point for the Hokies was more than midway through the second quarter, when they began a 16–0 run. Trailing by nine with 4:48 remaining in the first half, Tech scored 20 points into the first two minutes of the third quarter. During that span, the Tigers scored two.

During their 20–2 run, Hokies guard Kayana Traylor scored nine of their points, totaling 17 points, six rebounds and three steals.

“I think my teammates put me in really good positions to be successful,” Traylor said. “I was just waiting for my opportunity. We were struggling a little bit shooting-wise, so we had to do different things, play good defense, get stops, get to the rim.”

During the shift, Brooks switched to a 2-3 zone, changing the defensive scheme. He implemented the unusual system because forward Taylor Soule picked up two early fouls, only playing eight minutes in the first half.

“I thought it threw them out of rhythm a little bit, caused them to be stagnant on their end,” Brooks said. “... So it was just a really good solution to some of our issues, some of our problems. And as a result, we were able to go on a run.”

With the Hokies leading by nine points entering the fourth quarter, the Tigers clawed back. Alexis Morris hit a threepointer, a layup and a free throw, which on top of an Angel Reese layup and a LaDazhia Williams jump shot, tied the game at 62.

LSU never looked back, scoring 16 more points than Virginia Tech in the final period, advancing to the national championship game.

The Hokies thrived in the first half when they beat their opponents on the glass. They grabbed 25 rebounds in the first half, 11 more than LSU. The Tigers, who entered the game ranked third nationally in rebounds per game, improved in the second half, notching 22, countered with Tech’s 13.

Hokies center Elizabeth Kitley led her team with 18 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks and three assists. Traylor and Amoore each added 17 points, while guard Cayla King totaled 14 points and three steals, including four three-pointers.

Guard Alexis Morris led the Tigers with 27 points, playing all 40 minutes. Forward Angel Reese earned her 33rd doubledouble of the season with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Forward LaDazhia Williams added 16 points and three steals.

In the game, LSU scored 24 second chance points and 22 off turnovers, while

Virginia Tech scored 19 second chance points and 10 off turnovers.

“I think we did a really good job for the most part in the first two quarters of limiting them to one shot, and I think we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds when they were coming back in the fourth, and that definitely hurt us,” Kitley said.

Kitley, the Hokies’ all time points leader, went head-to-head with LSU forward Angel Reese, matching up two of the country’s top WNBA prospects. Reese scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter.

“(Reese is) super athletic, really good at getting rebounds on you,” Kitley said. “… Coming out (of halftime), her not being in danger of foul trouble as much, I knew she was going to be really aggressive on that end, and she was. She gave them a lot of second-chance opportunities, and that definitely helped them come back.”

Friday marked what may have been the final game in a Virginia Tech uniform for eight seniors. Six of them, Kitley, Traylor, King, guard/forward Taylor Geiman, forward D’asia Gregg and guard Ashley Owusu have the option to retain eligibility for an additional year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players who may declare for the WNBA Draft, which is on April 10, have 48 hours after their season concludes to make a decision.

As all players reflected on their season, some of whom may have worn a Hokies uniform for the final time, they only had positive takeaways. Even if they fell short of a national championship, ACC Championship and Seattle Regional 3 Championship trophies will rest in the Hahn-Hurst Basketball Practice Center, forever memorializing the 2022-23 season.

“This group of girls has been so fun to play with, and it’s the kind of relationship that I feel like is going to carry on for however many years, and we’ll always be able to look back on this season and remember how much fun we had together,” Kitley said. “I’m sure we’re going to have a reunion in 50 years and be able to talk about it. So I’m looking forward to that.” Brooks emphasized how special his 2022-23 team was and how proud he was of their accomplishments.

“I want (the players) to look at the Final Four and appreciate all the hard work, the dedication, the sacrifices that this group put in,” Brooks said. “And I want them to understand this is a phenomenal group of young ladies, and what they have done for this program, for this university, they’re proud to be Hokies.”

LSU will play in the national championship game on Sunday against Iowa, its first ever title game appearance. As for Virginia Tech, they will begin their offseason and, soon enough, raise their first Final Four banner in Cassell Coliseum.