Ladies’s Energy Rankings: Virginia Tech approaching robust down stretch

Virginia Tech middle Elizabeth Kitley stated that having beforehand gone by one senior day a 12 months in the past made her just a little extra ready for the feelings of the second. However there have been nonetheless some tears shed Sunday as she performed her final regular-season residence recreation at Blacksburg’s Cassell Coliseum.

She made it an excellent one, scoring 34 factors in a 74-62 victory over North Carolina that pushed the 23-4 Hokies into the highest 5 of ESPN’s ladies’s faculty basketball Energy Rankings for the primary time this season, at No. 4.

Virginia Tech has gained 10 consecutive video games and clinched not less than a share of its first ACC regular-season title at 14-2. Add that to final season’s first ACC event championship and first journey to the Ultimate 4 and the 6-foot-6 Kitley has left a legacy at Virginia Tech that is as tall as she is. And he or she is not completed but. The Hokies secured the No. 1 seed within the ACC event on Sunday, no matter the results of their last two regular-season contests.

Kitley went by senior day final 12 months however opted to make use of the COVID-19 waiver and return for a fifth season. The 2-time ACC participant of the 12 months is averaging 22.9 factors, 11.8 rebounds and a pair of.0 blocks. In ESPN’s most up-to-date WNBA mock draft, she was the No. 12 choose (Atlanta Dream).

Level guard Georgia Amoore — the “Robin” to Kitley’s “Batman” — is a fourth-year senior and presently projected because the No. 9 choose (Dallas Wings) within the WNBA draft, though she may return for a fifth faculty season. Amoore had 11 assists on Sunday to grow to be Virginia Tech’s all-time chief within the class (636) together with 19 factors.

North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart did not nitpick her personal workforce’s protection in opposition to Kitley and Amoore and as an alternative gave credit score to the highest guard-post duo in VaTech ladies’s hoops historical past.

“We guarded them nicely,” Banghart stated. “They’re simply actually good.”

Taylor had a mixed 36 factors, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 10 steals in victories this week over Penn State and Maryland because the Buckeyes clinched not less than a share of the Massive Ten regular-season title. Taylor has been a giant a part of Ohio State’s 14-game profitable streak, scoring in double figures 10 instances throughout the stretch. A guard who spent two seasons at Texas and two at Duke, she is profiting from her fifth season by way of the COVID-19 waiver.

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Virginia Tech Hokies vs. North Carolina Tar Heels – Recreation Highlights

Watch the Recreation Highlights from Virginia Tech Hokies vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

The Hokies performed only one recreation, however it was a probably harmful one. With the feelings of senior day and going through a North Carolina workforce that was coming in sizzling after beating NC State, the Hokies needed to be cautious of an upset. They responded nicely, getting off to a 21-5 first-quarter lead.

The Tar Heels have been in a position to shut the hole within the second quarter, however Virginia Tech stored them at arm’s size the remainder of the best way.

The Hokies completed their regular-season residence schedule at 15-0, and they’re projected to host early-round video games within the NCAA event.

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Jada Williams’ banked 3 the distinction in Arizona’s upset over Stanford

Jada Williams banks within the 3-pointer to place Arizona up 3 within the last minute because the Wildcats upset No. 3 ranked Stanford.

All the way down to seven gamers and going into Maples Pavilion, the place Arizona hadn’t gained since 2001, the Wildcats did not seem to have a lot probability to beat Stanford on Friday.

Even with Cardinal star Cameron Brink out as a result of sickness, Stanford had a nine-point lead with slightly below 4 minutes left. However the Wildcats completed on a 19-3 run to tug off the inconceivable upset. Freshman Jada Williams scored 14 of her 23 factors within the last 4 minutes for Arizona.

The Wildcats went on to beat Cal 87-68 on Sunday, and they’re now 16-12 total and 8-8 within the Pac-12. Whereas there’s nonetheless work to do, the ends in the Golden State pushed Arizona nearer to creating the NCAA event discipline.

Coach of the week: Niele Ivey, Notre Dame

With three video games performed this previous week, two of them on the highway, the Preventing Irish wanted to dig deep. They did simply that, profitable at Duke and Boston School and at residence versus Clemson. With Olivia Miles out all season and needing to place the keys within the arms of tremendous gifted freshman level guard Hannah Hidalgo, Ivey has guided the Irish to an 11-5 file within the ACC, the place they’re in a four-way tie for third place with two video games left.

Energy Rankings

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No. 1 Gamecocks unfold the love in rout of Kentucky

Led by Bree Corridor’s 18 factors, six South Carolina gamers rating in double figures within the 103-55 highway victory over the Wildcats.

1. South Carolina Gamecocks (27-0)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: at Arkansas Razorbacks (Thursday), vs. Tennessee Woman Volunteers (Sunday)

Does it really feel just a little just like the Gamecocks are enjoying chess and everybody else is enjoying checkers? The one undefeated workforce in Division I ladies’s or males’s basketball, South Carolina cruised previous Alabama by 28 factors and rocked Kentucky by 48 final week. Two extra wins this week will give the Gamecocks their second consecutive good file in SEC regular-season play.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (24-3)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: vs. Michigan Wolverines (Wednesday), at Iowa Hawkeyes (Sunday)

The Buckeyes have clinched the highest seed within the Massive Ten event with victories final week over Penn State and Maryland. Subsequent up is a rematch with the one league workforce that has defeated them this season, the Wolverines, then a much-anticipated journey to Iowa to finish the common season. Ohio State beat the Hawkeyes in extra time throughout their first assembly on Jan. 21.

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Madison Booker will get the layup for the Longhorns

3. Texas Longhorns (26-3)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: at Oklahoma Sooners (Wednesday), vs. BYU Cougars (Saturday)

The Longhorns have gained eight in a row, with a surprisingly shut 77-72 resolution over Texas Tech and a 31-point blowout of UCF final week. Taylor Jones had 19 factors in opposition to the Woman Raiders for her highest-scoring output since early December. Subsequent up, the Longhorns have an opportunity to avenge their final loss, which was Jan. 24 versus Oklahoma. A win over the Sooners would put Texas in a first-place tie with OU within the Massive 12.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies (23-4)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: at Notre Dame Preventing Irish (Thursday), at Virginia Cavaliers (Sunday)

Kitley and Amoore have been the celebrities, however the Hokies have had different massive contributors, as nicely. Matilda Ekh, a switch from Michigan State, is their third-leading scorer (10.8 factors per recreation). Olivia Summiel, a switch who performed her first 4 seasons at Wake Forest, is Virginia Tech’s second-leading rebounder (6.9 per recreation).

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Caitlin Clark calls decal signifying file shot ‘tremendous particular’

Caitlin Clark reacts to the “22 Clark” decal on Iowa’s court docket within the spot the place she hit her record-breaking shot to grow to be the all-time main ladies’s basketball scorer.

5. Iowa Hawkeyes (24-4)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: at Minnesota Golden Gophers (Wednesday), vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (Sunday)

On Thursday, the Hawkeyes bumped into an Indiana workforce pissed off after a loss at Illinois a number of days earlier. The Hoosiers’ motivated protection was an excessive amount of, holding Iowa to an uncharacteristic 69 factors in a highway loss. At residence on Sunday, Iowa was again to its regular self offensively in a 101-85 win over Illinois. Caitlin Clark had her sixteenth profession triple-double on Sunday, and she or he is nearing Pete Maravich’s mark for the NCAA Division I all-time scoring file.

6. Stanford Cardinal (24-4)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: at Oregon State Beavers (Thursday), at Oregon Geese (Saturday)

Say this in regards to the Cardinal: After they’re good, they’re Ultimate 4 good. However in all three Pac-12 losses, their offense has appeared to go to sleep, with 59 factors at Colorado on Jan. 14, 58 at residence versus USC on Feb. 2 and — the large shocker — 61 at residence to Arizona on Friday. Nevertheless, Stanford rebounded from that upset to beat Arizona State 81-67 on Sunday and clinch not less than a share of its twenty seventh Pac-12 regular-season championship.

7. Indiana Hoosiers (22-4)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: at Northwestern Wildcats (Tuesday), vs. Maryland Terrapins (Sunday)

After a disappointing loss final Monday at Illinois, the Hoosiers met as a workforce, refocused, practiced nicely and upset Iowa 86-69 on Thursday. It was simply what Indiana wanted to remain within the high 16 seeds. The Hoosiers look to complete robust this week and head into the Massive Ten event as one of many high 4 seeds.

8. LSU Tigers (24-4)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: at Georgia Woman Bulldogs (Thursday), vs. Kentucky Wildcats (Sunday)

In a busy week, the Tigers handed all their assessments, beating Texas A&M, Auburn and Tennessee. That they had a special main scorer in every recreation — Aneesah Morrow, Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith — which is an effective signal for a workforce anticipated to be deadly offensively. Reese continues to tear up the boards too, with a mixed 45 rebounds within the three video games.

9. USC Trojans (21-5)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: at Arizona Wildcats (Thursday), at Arizona State Solar Devils (Saturday)

The Trojans gained their seventh recreation in a row on Friday, beating Colorado 87-81 behind JuJu Watkins’ 42 factors. That briefly vaulted them into consideration for a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event, however they slipped just a little on Sunday with a 74-68 loss to Utah. Watkins had 30 factors in that recreation and for the weekend made 27 of 30 free throws. Her 18 of 18 efficiency from the road on Friday set the Pac-12 file for makes with no miss.

10. UCLA Bruins (21-5)
Earlier rating: 15
This week: vs. Colorado Buffaloes (Monday), at Arizona State Solar Devils (Thursday), at Arizona Wildcats (Saturday)

The Bruins avenged their January extra time loss at Utah in beating the Utes by 30 factors in Los Angeles on Thursday. UCLA finishes regular-season play with three video games this week that might be a bit difficult. Colorado is reeling a bit after three consecutive losses and is trying to proper the ship. And Arizona confirmed it’s harmful with its win at Stanford. Getting a top-four seed within the Pac-12 event might be on the road.

11. Oregon State Beavers (22-5)
Earlier rating: 11
This week: vs. Stanford Cardinal (Thursday), vs. California Golden Bears (Saturday)

The Beavers defeated Washington State then have been upset by Washington this previous week. Raegan Beers, Oregon State’s high scorer and rebounder, has been out the previous three video games — two of them losses — since struggling a damaged nostril Feb. 16 in a victory over UCLA.

12. UConn Huskies (24-5)
Earlier rating: 14
This week: vs. Villanova Wildcats (Wednesday), at Windfall Friars (Saturday)

After final Monday’s 20-point win over Creighton, the one different ranked Massive East workforce, the Huskies traveled to Chicago on Sunday for an additional trouncing of DePaul, this time 104-67. The Huskies defeated the Blue Demons for the twenty fifth consecutive time. Paige Bueckers had a mixed 54 factors for UConn within the two video games, whereas Aaliyah Edwards registered 43 factors and 23 rebounds.

13. NC State Wolfpack (23-5)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: vs. Syracuse Orange (Thursday), vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Sunday)

The Wolfpack had gained eight of 9 earlier than falling final week at Triangle rivals North Carolina (by 10 factors) and Duke (by 11). That dropped NC State right into a four-way logjam for third place within the ACC at 11-5. The 58 factors scored in opposition to Duke have been the Wolfpack’s fewest in a recreation this season. They hope they will get some mojo again to complete the common season.

14. Kansas State Wildcats (23-5)
Earlier rating: 12
This week: vs. Iowa State Cyclones (Wednesday), at Texas Tech Woman Raiders (Saturday)

Kansas State beat West Virginia in extra time then was upset at rival Kansas final week. Star middle Ayoka Lee had a mixed 48 factors and 23 rebounds within the two contests. The Wildcats are nonetheless third within the Massive 12 however aren’t trending nicely, having misplaced 4 of their previous seven.

15. Oklahoma Sooners (20-7)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: vs. Texas Longhorns (Wednesday), at Kansas Jayhawks (Saturday)

The Massive 12-leading Sooners soar again into the Energy Rankings after an look two weeks in the past, following victories final week over Cincinnati and rival Oklahoma State. The Sooners have been league co-champions with Texas final season, and so they hope to win the title outright this 12 months. However they’ve two massive assessments this last week.

16. Syracuse Orange (23-5)
Earlier rating: 16
This week: at NC State Wolfpack (Thursday)

The Orange went 1-1 final week however clung to the ultimate spot within the Energy Rankings, as they’re nonetheless in second place within the ACC. Syracuse struggled versus Duke’s protection on Thursday, falling 58-45, however rebounded with a 63-53 win over Pitt on Sunday. Dyaisha Truthful mixed for 45 factors within the two outings, and she or he now has 3,302 factors for her profession, good for fifth place on the ladies’s NCAA scoring record.

Dropped out: Colorado Buffaloes