2024 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament Semifinals Recap (3-9-24)

By: Joe Dillard Jr.

All Photo Credit: ACC Photos

Game 12

A rainy day in Greensboro usually calls for turning over in bed however this Beautiful Saturday inside the Greensboro Coliseum has pure fun and energy involved with the first semi-final matchup between #1 Virginia Tech Hokies and #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the right to contend for an ACC tournament championship. This on paper was a big-time game with a big-time performance needed. In the first quarter Maddy Westbeld, a 6’3 Junior of Notre Dame came out hot and efficient with 7 of the 15 points while leading the Irish to an early first quarter lead 15-12. Hannah Hidalgo and Georgia Amoore both had a hard time finding success as the two stars for each team combined for 1 of 11 from the field. The Hokie bench came in with a spark producing 9 of the 12 points. In the second Notre Dame came out hot and hit 2 three-pointers, one by Hannah and the other by Sonia Citron as part of an 8-0 run. As the Fighting Irish jumped out to a double-digit lead, the Hokies started to fight back with 6’2 senior Olivia Summiel going on a 5-0 run to avoid things from getting out of control. Hokie Nation stood up and gave support as Tech got the deficit down to 4 but late baskets by the Irish gave them a ten-point lead at half 33-23. All five starters for the Irish scored and was led by Westbeld with 10. For the Hokies Georgia had 7 points late in the quarter to lead the Hokies with 9. In the third quarter, Notre Dame continued to pour in the offense and never looked back winning the quarter 28-17. Everything went the Fighting Irish way except an apparent leg injury to junior center Kylee Watson who was anchoring the defense and having her way in the post. She was on her way to double figures but was the only member of the starting lineup not in double digits. With an injury in a tournament setting, it will be a quick turnaround to see how Notre Dame responds. The player of the game was Sonia Citron who had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Virginia Tech was led by Georgia Amoore with 24 points and will also have to turn around and prepare for the NCAA tournament. #4 Notre Dame will advance to the championship game tomorrow at 1 pm for the automatic berth and title to rise in one of the toughest conferences in women’s basketball.

Game 13

In the second game of the day and final one to decide who will be fighting for a championship is hometown favorite #2 North Carolina State Wolfpack taking on #6 Florida State Seminoles in what will be a sea of red but not maroon and will make this feel like a home game for the Lady Wolfpack. The first quarter was back and forth with constant action however it was Mimi Collins of N.C. The state matched FSU with 11 points. The Wolfpack dominated rebounding which turned out to be the theme of the game and held FSU to 26% shooting in the first. With the second moving slowly both teams exchanged empty possessions and once Makayla Timpson got into foul trouble the dominance in the paint continued. The Wolfpack went into half up 15, 35-20 with Aziaha James and Mimi Collins with 13 points apiece. The third quarter was the Aziaha James show as she continued to get anywhere on the court being a playmaker as well as scoring the ball. The Princess Anne graduate plays with an electric energy and intelligence that makes the Wolfpack a hard team to beat. River Baldwin, a transfer from Florida State set the standard in the paint with Mimi Collins and Madison Hayes as the three ladies outrebounded the whole Florida State team 33 to 30. The Lady Wolfpack advanced with a win of 69-43 and will head to the championship game tomorrow at 1 pm. The player of the game was Aziaha James as she pretty much did whatever she wanted on the court today behind the Wolfpack faithful with 23 points 9 rebounds and 4 assists. The Wolfpack can be looking to gain a #1 seed for the NCAA tournament if they can come out with a win against Notre Dame in the championship. Either way, this calls for some nonstop ACC women’s hoops and you would be a fool to not tune in.