Virginia Tech star Elizabeth Kitley will miss the NCAA Tournament with a knee injury she suffered during the Hokies’ season-finale loss at Virginia on March 3, she announced via Instagram on Thursday. Hokies coach Kenny Brooks confirmed Kitley tore her ACL.
“This is not at all how I anticipated ending this year with my team, but I’m so proud of all of our accomplishments, and I’m excited to see my girls continue to compete,” Kitley said. “Thank you to all of Hokie Nation for being so supportive during this tough time. I’m looking forward to making a strong comeback.”
Kitley, the 6-foot-6 center in her fifth year at Virginia Tech, averaged career highs in points (22.8) and rebounds (11.4) this season, both of which led the team. Kitley started all 151 games she played in for the Hokies and finishes her college career having averaged 17.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Kitley’s injury is a big blow to a team hoping to make it back to the Final Four, where it lost to LSU last year.
“She’s put everything into this. She’s the reason we’re here,” Brooks said. “The kid eat, slept, drank everything Hokies basketball. … For everything to be taken away from you in a split second, it’s devastating.”
Virginia Tech, a No. 4 seed, is 24-7 overall…
