North Carolina State University Athletics
N.C. State's Newest Three-Point Artist
1/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2002
Raleigh, N.C. --- Here is a potential family reunion scenario for one Raleigh household. After the smorgasbord lunch has digested, a member might suggest a pick-up basketball game in the driveway. Splitting up teams by the colleges attended would seem fair enough. Ok - all the Carolina Tar Heels on one side, and all the N.C. State Wolfpack on the other.
The other two can ref.
For the Bailey household, this creates a 13 on 1 tilting in Carolina's favor. Lucky thing Liz can dribble and shoot the three. She won't be getting too many rebounds.
"I grew up a die-hard Carolina fan," Bailey said. "I thought about going to Carolina like everyone else, and trying to walk on to their soccer team. No one in my family has gone to State. My brother's room is painted Carolina blue."
Name the family relative, and Chapel Hill has at one time been home to their mail. Mother - Carolina. Grandfather - Carolina. Aunt - Carolina. Uncle - Carolina. A baker's dozen list is of Heels is formed.
It's the most boring game of Memory known to man.
A three-time all-state soccer selection she was, and the lure of UNC's decorated program existed.
But in the end, Bailey rebelled against her family's Tar Heel legacy, and accepted a recruited walk-on invitation for Head Coach Kay Yow's class of 2005.
In late November, Bailey was fortunate to discard the warm-up jersey for mop-up time for the 8th-ranked Wolfpack, sometimes not playing at all. Now, a mere five weeks later, Bailey has ascended from the depths of the Wolfpack bench. No longer is Bailey logging barely more than triple-figure seconds a game. Bailey has morphed into one of the ACC's most precise three-point threats (50%) and gaining almost 20 minutes a game. She has yet to crack the starting line-up, yet is the fifth leading-scorer on the club (5.2) and has made a team-leading 16 three-pointers.
Through it all, though, Bailey never lost her sense of purpose, determination or her infectious, confident smile on the sidelines.
"The difficulty for me this season has been not playing," Bailey said. "I'm used to playing every minute of every game. But I want to be a positive influence on my teammates, and prove that I could hang with the rest of them."
Rivalry Week
Following the Pack's 75-63 win over Georgia Tech Sunday afternoon, the Bailey clan convened at the Bailey home for it's traditional Sunday night dinner. Rivalry week most assuredly dominated the conversation.
At Carolina Thursday. A Reynolds Coliseum date with Duke on national television Sunday night.
Five-figure crowds. Pep bands passionately blowing out fight songs.
The elite of the ACC going toe-to-toe within a three-day span.
The slight family ambivalence will be no more.
Although initially surprised at her college choice, Liz started weaning her family on red and white, and they've come around. And 7:00 PM Thursday at the Smith Center, the Bailey contingent, numbering in the dozens when friends are factored in, will be in attendance showcasing the State colors.
The internal struggle is as present inside Liz's aunt Jane as anyone. "When I was born, I was one of those babies who came home from hospital with Carolina blue blood," Jane joked. "It's hard, though. I have one red top. But for the Carolina game, there will be lots of red that day. We will definitely cheer for the Pack."
Liz is the middle of three children. Her younger brother Ruffin is on the varsity basketball squad, and attempting to trace the footsteps at Sanderson High as his acclaimed sister walked the past four years. Liz's older sister Laura attends UNC-Wilmington, which is where Liz declined a basketball scholarship to pay her own way at State.
"When I went to Wilmington, the visit didn't seem like a big step from high school," Bailey lamented. "It wasn't a big-enough challenge for me."
Coach Yow has seen that characteristic in Bailey since her arrival. "All competitors need to be able to handle how to deal with adversity to move to a higher level," Yow stated. "Liz brings a strong competitiveness to our team. She strives with others to bring out best in all. She looks at competition as a test and stretch of her abilities to see where her best is."
The Breakout
Last Sunday, a Bailey fan gallery upwards 30 of made the short trip to Winston-Salem, N.C. for her first ACC encounter. They hoped this would be the game Liz entered to display the wares that led to her two-time Raleigh News & Observer Player of the Year honor.
At Sanderson, Bailey scored over 1,300 points in her career, and had a drained a personal-high seven three-pointers in a single game. Scoring is not a novel concept for Bailey
But on this particular Sunday, Bailey's teammates then watched in pleasant disbelief as she assumed complete control of the contest. Summoned off the bench midway through a listless first half against Wake Forest, Bailey was on the floor no longer than five seconds before liftoff. She took a pass at the top of the key, popped coldly and drilled the first of what would be six three-pointers in a 20 point breakout performance. Bailey would finish 7-12 from the field in a 61-47 win over the Demon Deacons.
The Other Kind Of Artist
Bailey, an undeclared major, can be regarded not only as a three-point artist on the basketball floor, but also off. She will be plying her artistic talents through her application to the N.C. State School of Design.
Common Bailey Christmas gifts to her family have often included uniquely crafted potteries, designs and even Kleenex box coozies, with each side decorated for each of the four seasons. Now, sprinkle in a well-placed Wolfpack T-shirt and the family conversion process kicks into a higher gear.
One pass through her childhood room is all the evidence needed to verify Liz's talents. Although, it may have needed parental approval to fully blossom.
Sure, Liz does have the typical artists portfolios. "I'll be submitting lots of paintings, pottery, pen-and-ink pieces, black-and-white sketches, freehand and landscapes scenes," Bailey listed.
But Bailey's childhood is indelibly demarcated on her four room's four walls.
"It's very colorful. The walls are paints covered in writing, photographs, and markers. My cousin started doing it, and I asked my mom if it was all right."
One nod of endorsement from her mother, Betty, and there would be no turning back. And no more white walls.
The Bailey graffiti wall was born.
Back to the beginning. Thirteen Tar Heel diplomas versus one pending Wolfpack degree. Might the household conversion process from Tar Heel fans to N.C. State be hastening? Perhaps a time is soon coming where the basketball artist in Bailey and traditional artist in Bailey converge signaling the end of this process.
Three point barrages against UNC and Duke.
Two Wolfpack wins. From the Smith Center and Reynolds Coliseum, a pair of Bailey mental pictures are created.
Tar Heel fans' distraught and Wolfpack fans' exhilaration.
From these images, Bailey produces a pair of hand-sketched drawings. Especially reserved locations for her freshman masterpieces - where hung side by side, her childhood graffiti wall will become complete. The Wolfpack will finally rule the Bailey walls.
Oh, by the way, Betty's maiden name was passed down to October 15, 1982 as Liz's middle name.
Wolfe.
In Liz's words, "Go Pack."
