North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Women Travel to Georgia Tech
2/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
#20/#21 NC State heads to Atlanta for an ACC matchup with Georgia Tech in hopes of extending its league-best five game winning streak. The 7:30 p.m. Thursday night contest will be televised live by FOX Sports South.
The Wolfpack: NC State has won four consecutive games and enters tonight's contest ranked #20 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll and #21 in the Associated Press poll. After struggling to a disappointing 2-6 mark in the first half of the conference slate, the Wolfpack Women are off to a 4-0 start in the second half of the ACC season. The NC State defense is ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense (55.7). NC State is led by the inside-outside combination of Carisse Moody (14.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Tynesha Lewis (13.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.5 apg).
The Opponent: After losing six straight ACC contests, Georgia Tech pulled off a 87-70 upset at Virginia last week before falling to Duke at home on Monday night. Georgia Tech has to score a lot of points in order to win. The Jackets are 0-9 when they score less than 70 points and tonight they face a stingy NC State defense that gives up only 55 points per game. The Yellow Jackets are led by sophomore Niesha Butler who averages 16 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Milli Martinez (12.5), Jaime Kruppa (11.9) and Sonja Mallory (10.8) also average double figures for Agnus Berenato's squad.
Tonight's Matchup: A win tonight will move NC State above .500 in ACC play since the Wolfpack opened the ACC season with a win over the Yellow Jackets. Currently, only one game separates the second place team and the seventh place team in the league standings. A win tonight will keep the Pack in the mix for a high ACC tourney seed. Tonight's ACC clash is televised live by FOX SportsSouth. Wes Durham will handle play-by-play duties with Debbie Antonelli serving as color commentator.
Probable Starters: NC State G - 20 Tynesha Lewis (5-10, senior, 13.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg,2.5 apg) G - 32 Ivy Gardner (5-9, sophomore, 6.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg) C - 44 Carisse Moody (6-1, sophomore, 14.3 ppg, 6.8rpg) F - 25 Monica Bates (6-2, senior, 4.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg) F - 45 Talisha Scates (6-1, junior, 6.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg)The Series: NC State leads the all-time series with Georgia Tech 34-11. However, the Yellow Jackets upset the Wolfpack twice last year. Once on senior day in Raleigh and then again a week later in the first round of the ACC Tournament. NC State is 14-6 versus Georgia Tech in games played in Atlanta. The last time the Pack lost in Atlanta was Jan. 5, 1997 when Georgia Tech pulled out a 73-72 victory.Georgia Tech G - 11 Niesha Butler (5-8, sophomore, 16.0 ppg, 3.5rpg) G - 31 Milli Martinez (5-8, junior, 12.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg) C - 33 Sonya Mallory (6-4, sophomore, 10.9 ppg, 6.7rpg) F - 01 Nina Barlin (5-9, sophomore, 6.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg) F - 32 Jamie Kruppa (6-1, senior, 11.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg)
Last Meeting: NC State won the matchup between these two teams earlier this season 77-63 in Reynolds Coliseum on Dec. 6, 2000. The game was tied at halftime but NC State pulled away in the second half for its first ACC win of the season. Carisse Moody led the Wolfpack with 23 points and eight rebounds. Tynesha Lewis added 17 points and four assists. Georgia Tech's Niesha Butler scored 22 points but had nine turnovers against the Pack defense.
The Coaches: Head Coach Kay Yow, in her 26th season on the Wolfpack bench, recently reached the 600th career win milestone. She has a 547-231 (.703) record at NC State and a 604-250 (.707) overall collegiate coaching mark. One of the most successful coaches in the country, she currently ranks fifth in career wins. Agnus Berenato has a 186-180 (.508) record in 13 years on the Georgia Tech bench. She also owns a 246-235 (.511) overall record in 17 years as a collegiate head coach.
Last Time Out: NC State rolled to its fourth straight win with a 69-35 victory at Wake Forest last Thursday. Carisse Moody posted her sixth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ga. Tech dropped a 74-54 decision to Duke in Atlanta on Monday night. Tamika Boatner and Niesha Butler scored nine apiece for the Yellow Jackets.
Up Next: After a three-game road trip, the Wolfpack Women return home on Sunday to face #4 Duke. The 2 p.m. ACC matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN2 with Michele Tafoya and Fran Harris handling the commentary.
