Women’s roundup: Hokies shock Tar Heels while Duke escapes Miami

UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell was right when she talked about it in preseason.

The ACC is pretty balanced this time from top to bottom.

Hatchell’s No. 10 Tar Heels were victims of a big upset Thursday night, falling to Virginia Tech 79-64 at Cassell Coliseum.

UNC (13-3, 1-1 ACC) had been picked to finish first in the conference’s regular-season standings, while the Hokies (11-5, 1-1) were picked 12^th and last. It was the Tar Heels’ second straight loss.

In another ACC game matching a pair of ranked teams, No. 7 Duke to a 69-62 win at No. 25 Miami.

Lindsay Biggs’ 19 points led a balanced Virginia Tech offense as the Hokies beat the Tar Heels for the first time since 1984.

Brittany Gordon added 17 points for the Hokies while Northern Durham alumna Utahya Drye (pictured) added 16 and Alyssa Fenyn 10.

Chay Shegog came off the bench for 13 points to lead the Tar Heels, while She’la White added 12 points and Laura Broomfield 11 points with 14 rebounds.

Duke 69, Miami 62

Krystal Thomas came off the bench for 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead Duke (15-2, 3-0).

Jasmine Thomas added 16 points for the Blue Devils, who got 12 points from Karima Christmas and 10 from Bridgette Mitchell.

Shenise Johnson had 19 points to lead Miami (13-3, 1-1), coached by Duke alumna Katie Meier, while Morgan Stroman added 15 and Riquna Williams 10.