Women's BB vs UNC Sunday Feb 28 at 2PM

The Lady Hokies play UNC again tomorrow at 2 PM. The game is on ACCNx and is a home game for the Hokies. In a scheduling quirk, this will be the third meeting between the two teams this season. The Hokies beat UNC in Chapel Hill on Jan 14 by 66-54 and in Cassell by 73-69 on Jan 31.

UNC is 12-9 on the season and 7-9 in ACC play. Their ACC wins were at home to Syracuse, WF, Notre Dame, NC State and Clemson and on the road at Pitt and Clemson. They are 4-1 in their last five games, with the only loss to NC State; they also beat NC State and Ga Tech in that streak. UNC is a team that is playing well as the season wraps up.

Eight different players have started at least one game for UNC, but the five players who normally start average 27-29 min/game.

The starters:

Janelle Bailey #44, 6'4" Senior Center
27.4 mpg, 13.6 ppg 48.5%, 14.3% from 3, 70.7% FT
7.9 rebounds per game, averages 2.6 fouls per game

Petra Holesinska #2, 5'10" Grad Guard
27 mpg 12.7 ppg 40.4%, 36.7% from 3, 71.4% FT
2.1 fouls, 2.3 assists, 1.6 TO

Stephanie Watts #5, 5'11" Grad Guard
27.2 mpg 11 ppg, 36.5%, 27.1% from 3, 86.2% FT
5.6 Rebounds per game, 3.1 Assists, 1.7 TO, 34 Steals and 15 blocks this season

Deja Kelly #25, 5'8" Freshman Guard
27.3 mpg, 10.3 ppg, 33%, 28.9% from 3, 76.8% FT
2.1 rebounds, 3.1 Assists, 2.0 TO

Alyssa Ustby #1, 6'1" Freshman Guard
29.1 mpg, 9.4 ppg, 50%, 33.3% from 3, 54.8% FT
5.6 Rebounds per game, has 12 blocks and 36 steals this season

Other players with significant minutes:

Kennedy Todd-Williams #3, 5'11" Freshman Guard
20.3 mpg, 6.8 ppg, 36.4%, 33.3% from 3, 69.8% FT
5.2 Rebounds per game, 2 Assists, .7 TO

Anya Poole #31, 6'2" Freshman Forward
14.5 mpg, 4.8 ppg, 42.9%, 50% from 3, 51.3% FT
5.1 Rebounds per game, has 17 blocks this season

Malu Tshitenge #21, 6'3" Sohpomore Forward
13.7 mpg 2.8 ppg, 50%, no attempts from 3, 50% FT
2.8 Rebounds per game,

Season Stats:

UNC is playing well now and they have a player that can challenge Kitley. Bailey is a bigger body than Kitley and plays a more physical game. If the refs let her manhandle the Hokies underneath, this could be a tough game. If the refs call fouls on her underneath, she could spend a lot of time on the bench. Kitley has to play good defense against her and get her points to keep Tech in this game.

If the Hokies can give Kitley some help from beyond the arc with Sheppard and either King or Amoore scoring efficiently, the Hokies should handle UNC. This will not be a game where we can afford to have long stretches of careless play.

UNC is not a prolific three point team with only Holesinska shooting better than 35%; but they are a good defensive team, only allowing opponents to shoot 32% from beyond the arc.

We can't let their overall losing record in ACC play lull us into taking this game for granted. UNC will probably be an 8 seed in the ACC Tourny if they win and a 10 seed if they lose. We could be as high as 4 if we win and some other games break our way, or as low as 7 if we lose.

Go for Lucky 7 Hokies!