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 Virginia Tech (11-19 (1-15 ACC)) | 32 | 25 | 57 |
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GREENSBORO, N.C. - A made jumper from the corner by Hannah Young in the waning seconds proved to be the difference as the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team defeated NC State, 57-56, at the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday evening to advance at the 2015 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
It marks the first time in school history that the Hokies have defeated the Wolfpack. In addition, it is the first time since the 2006-07 season when the Hokies defeated Boston College that Tech has earned a win in the ACC Tournament.
“Needless to say, I’m extremely proud of how competitive our girls have been, particularly given the way the season has gone,” said head coach Dennis Wolff. “We came in here and played a good NC State team. Both teams played well today and for us to make one more play, which we needed to do a number of different times this year, is very, very satisfying. I’m very, very proud and happy for the kids.”
Vanessa Panousis led the Hokies (11-19) with 19 total points while Sidney Cook added 12 points and Kelsey Conyers put down a career-high tying 10 points of her own. In addition, Conyers led the team with six rebounds and Panousis handed out eight assists.
It was a tight game from the beginning. After the teams went scoreless for over two minutes from the start, both squads started to find their stroke from the field. It was NC State’s Jennifer Mathurin who struck first with a three-pointer with 17:34 on the clock, but the Hokies’ Panousis responded just seconds later with a three-ball of her own to even things up. The Wolfpack’s Mathurin laid it in to make it 5-3 but Panousis answered once more to tie things up.
Both teams would continue to exchange buckets with NC State going up by as many as five with 10:14 left to play in the first half, but the Hokies battled back from the deficit to ultimately tie things at 32, the eighth tie of the game, to end the half.
At the break, Panousis led Tech with 13 points while Cook provided a much-needed spark off the bench with nine points. Conyers used a pair of treys and a free throw to add seven points for the Hokies.
Neither team got much going to start the second half. In the opening six minutes of the second stanza, the two squads combined didn’t put away a single field goal with NC State taking the slight 34-32 advantage after a pair of free throws.
It wasn’t until Conyers hit a three with 14:11 to go in the second half that either team broke the field goal drought. Both the Wolfpack and the Hokies continued to exchange buckets throughout the half but NC State would go up by as much as six with 12 minutes left.
Tech fought back to go up with 7:02 left after a Young jumper, but that lead was short lived as NC State answered back with a three. NC State and the Hokies would continue to go back-and-forth from the field with neither team going up by more than two points.
NC State’s Miah Spencer hit a jumper to take the 56-55 lead with 15 seconds left on the clock. Tech ran the ball down the court and found Young on the outside corner. With a second left, Young threw the ball towards the basket and it went straight in to give Tech the 57-56 win.
“Yeah, it was exactly how the play was drawn up,” said Young. “I’m still in shock to be honest. Vanessa threw me that pass and I just shot it with confidence, and it went in, so here we are.”
Tech will be back in action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. when it takes on Pitt in second-round action of the 2015 ACC Women’s Basketball Championship.
For updates on Virginia Tech women's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WBBall
