North Carolina State University Athletics
This Silver is Looking Like Gold
1/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The committee that's been working on a 25th anniversary celebration for NC State women's basketball coach Kay Yow never imagined a script like this.
Of course the traditional Saturday night banquet with former players was penciled in for February 12. And there will be the special ceremony to retire seven jerseys immediately following the game against Clemson the following day.
But nobody envisioned a perfect 14-0 record and a lofty number 3 national ranking as part of Yow's silver anniversary special. In fact, the Wolfpack Women almost made it to the number two spot this week.
Top ranked Connecticut handed number two Tennessee its second loss of the year in Knoxville Sunday. Many NC State fans thought the unbeaten Wolfpack Women would move up when the votes were counted Monday. But in the USA Today/ESPN poll, the Lady Vols (11-2) had five more total points than NC State. Connecticut (12-0) received all 40 first place votes.
In the Associated Press voting, NC State was also number three, 12 points behind Tennessee. Uconn was also a unanimous number one choice with the writers and broadcasters.
That second spot debate may be decided on the court. NC State and Tennessee go head-to-head on January 29 in Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
"Polls aren't important right now," said Kay Yow. "All I'm thinking about is Thursday's game at Clemson."
Littlejohn Coliseum hasn't been a fun place for NC State fans in the 1990's. The Wolfpack Women picked up only two victories in ten games there. And the Lady Tigers have won four straight, a fact not lost on Summer Erb. "I just want to beat Clemson before I graduate," sighed the NC State 6-6 senior post player.
Actually, Erb played 18 minutes and scored 5 points off the bench two years ago when NC State tamed the Lady Tigers 73-51 in Reynolds Coliseum.
The Wolfpack Women are also among the nation's best defensive teams. A 35.4% defensive field goal percentage ranks 10th in the NCAA statistics. The defense is holding teams to only 56.6 points per game and that puts NC State 18th in that category.
The 1985 edition of the Wolfpack Women won 15 straight before losing to Old Dominion in the NCAA tournament.
A 15-0 record will be as good as gold for Kay Yow in her silver anniversary year. After all, that would mean a Wolfpack Women win at Clemson on Thursday.
