2024 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament Second Round Recap (3-7-

By: Joe Dillard Jr.

All Photo Credit: ACC

Virginia native athletes and head coaches that are in the ACC!

Coaches

*Amaka Agugua Hamilton (Mox) Virginia Head Coach
*Kara Lawson Duke Head Coach
*Kenny Brooks Virginia Tech Head Coach

Players

*Alyssa Andrews- Wake Forest (Colgan High)
*Aziaha James North Carolina State (Princess Anne)
*Bella Perkins Pittsburgh (Paul VI)
*Gabby Brooks Virginia Tech (Blacksburg)
*Kymora Johnson Virginia (St. Anne’s)
*Olivia McGhee Virginia (Louisa)
*Sam Brunelle Virginia (William Monroe)

Game 4

In the first game on Thursday #5 Louisville took on #13 Boston College who came off a win yesterday against Clemson and seemed to prove again why everyone is so crazy about tournament time. It’s simply because of the excitement in the air and the possibility of Cinderella leaving her glass slipper at the dance for you to have hope. In the first half, Boston College refused to back down answering every play and run that Louisville threw at them. Sophomore (which seems to be the early theme) Teya Sidberry came out on fire and was determined to will the Lady Eagles to another day and with 1:45 left to play Louisville continued to waste valuable opportunities to score the ball. After what would be 3 valuable attempts to close the gap Olivia Cochran goes to the line down 3 55-52 and misses both free throws. With a full-court press, Louisville steals the ball and closes the gap to 55-54 with 1:15 left in the game. After what appears to be a lightning strike in the Louisville intensity, they get another steal and Nyla Harris lays it up to regain the lead 56-55 with 32.8 seconds left to play. After a third turnover by Boston College Sydney Taylor sinks two free throws to give the Lady Cardinals a three-point lead with 12.5 seconds. After a couple more missed free throws by Olivia Cochran, Louisville survives the scare and advances to face #4 Notre Dame.

Game 5

In the second game of the day the #8 North Carolina Tarheels faced off against #9 Miami Hurricanes and of course, being in the Greensboro Coliseum the Tarheels had a slight advantage with the fans and location to Chapel Hill. Carolina came out running and feeding the post to have a 20-13 lead after the first quarter. As Carolina stretched the lead out to double figures, Ja’Leah Williams hit a half-court shot to bring the deficit down to 37-30. In the third period, both teams seemed to lack energy as both found empty possessions on the offensive end.

After three-quarters of play, the Tarheels held the lead by 2, 47 to 45. In the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 55 with the four-minute mark left in the game. Miami attacked the glass and outrebounded the Tarheels 39 to 30. The Hurricanes had four girls in double figures to knock off the hometown Tarheels. #9 Miami will advance to play #1 Virginia Tech on Friday at 1:30 pm.

Game 6

In the first afternoon game the #7 Duke Blue Devils took on #10 Georgia Tech who defeated Pittsburgh on the first day looked a little fatigued as Duke applied pressure and lots of it in the first half dominating on all levels. Ashlon Jackson, another sophomore, led the way with 11 points as the Sisterhood camped out in the paint getting high-percentage shots to extend the lead to double figures. In the third Tech continued to apply pressure but Duke continued to pound the paint and maintained a double-digit lead. Duke women have the parts and if I am being premature, I believe they might be here on Sunday but with 9 yes 9 potential tournament teams every game is a dog fight. So, when Duke handles Georgia Tech like this and can play complete basketball, Virginia native Kara Lawson has built a sisterhood that might just be the new standard. Again, it is hard to believe that when they are the 7th seed, however, this conference is so deep that my Vegas pick would be that 2 teams will be there at the final four or at least 5 in the Sweet sixteen. With that said in a convincing 70 to 58 victory against Georgia Tech, the Sisterhood will get rest and be ready for the number #2Wolfpack of North Carolina at 5:30 pm in game 10. Duke has plenty of weapons as 4 Lady BlueDevils were in double figures, and they play complete basketball.

Game 7

In the final game on the second night of the women’s 2024 Ally ACC tournament, #6 Florida State takes on #14 Wake Forest who upset the Lady Hoos of UVA. Florida State came out aggressive and took the ball to the cup thus giving an advantage at the free throw line and points in the paint. The Seminoles were up by 20 at the half. If Makayla Timpson can be aggressive and hit her free throws like she did tonight, then Florida State will be a tough out in this tournament as she led the way with a double-double in 22 points and 12 rebounds. They run this game wire to wire to pull away with the only blowout game thus far in the tournament. Great effort by Wake Forest however #6 Florida State will advance to play #3 Syracuse on Friday at 7:30 pm.