Virginia Tech Hokies' ACC women's basketball tournament run ends without star Elizabeth Kitley in loss to NC State - ESPN

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5:23 PM ET

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  Alexa PhilippouESPN

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  • Covers women's college basketball and the WNBA
  • Previously covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant
  • Stanford graduate and Baltimore native with further experience at the Dallas Morning News, Seattle Times and Cincinnati Enquirer

Virginia Tech's historic run in the ACC women's basketball tournament came to an end without its star player on the floor. After suffering a right shoulder injury in Friday's quarterfinal game, Elizabeth Kitley was sidelined for the Hokies' 70-55 loss to NC State Saturday in Greensboro.

It was the first time she has missed a game in her collegiate career. Virginia Tech was also without another starter, Cayla King, who sprained her ankle in Thursday's win over Clemson. Both players tried warming up Saturday before ultimately staying on the bench throughout the game.

Kitley injured her shoulder at the end of the first quarter Friday while diving for a loose ball. She tried to play again in the second quarter, but lasted about a minute on the court before subbing back out and watching the remainder of the game from the bench.

Virginia Tech overcame Kitley's and King's absences to take down North Carolina 87-80 in overtime and advance to the ACC tournament semifinals for the first time in program history.

Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks said after Saturday's loss that he erred on the side of caution in holding Kitley and King out.

"We felt like it was probably in [Kitley's] best interest to sit her today just so that she could rest and maybe not have a setback," Brooks said. "And if this were the NCAA championship game, and there were no games left, maybe Elizabeth could have played. But no need, and especially when you know you have games left to be played, to have any setbacks."

Kitley, a 6-foot-6 junior center, became the first Virginia Tech women's basketball player to win ACC Player of the Year earlier this week. During the regular season, she averaged 17.6 points on 53.8% shooting as well as 10.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

"She wanted to play," Brooks said of Kitley. "It's probably the first little argument that she and I got into, and I said 'No, you can't play.' And it was twofold, protecting her against herself, but also I had the utmost confidence in this group right here that we would go out and we would compete."

Virginia Tech missed Kitley's presence in the paint, as it was outrebounded by the Wolfpack 49-23. NC State's Elissa Cunane, who came in second in the league's player of the year voting, went off for 20 points and 13 rebounds.

ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme projects Virginia Tech as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Selection Sunday is March 13.

Brooks did not seem overly concerned about the status of either player with the NCAA tournament in a few weeks.

"Again, anything could happen, but I think they'll be fine," Brooks said. "I think they'll be fine, especially with the timing, and we get rest. And they actually get to go home a little bit because we're on spring break, so they'll be able to really rest."

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Virginia Tech Hokies' ACC women's basketball tournament run ends without star Elizabeth Kitley in loss to NC State - ESPN
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