North Carolina State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Readies for Non-Conference Finale
12/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C. -
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Old Dominion (2-4) -The Report
The Monarchs recently won convincingly over Virginia Tech, 63-49 on Dec. 21 ... SR G Okeisha Howard had a game-high 17 points and tied a season-high six assists ... played first game in their new arena - the "Ted Constant Convocation Center" ... JR F Monique Coker had a game-high 11 boards, has two double-doubles this season and is averaging 10.0 rpg and 8.3 ppg ... SO G Shareese Grant leads the squad with 13.8 ppg, while Howard is close behind with 13.3 ppg ... ODU has won just two games this season, the other coming a 90-54 thumping of Hampton on Nov. 30 ... also, the Monarchs had a 11-day lay-off where they did not play a game - from Dec. 9-Dec. 20 ... the Monarchs have won 11-straight CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) championships ... they are picked to win this season as well.
Next Tip
It's ACC tip-off time as NC State opens its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule this Thursday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m., against Maryland (5-4). The Pack then heads to No. 13 North Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 5, 1 p.m. The UNC game will be broadcast live on RSN.
The Last Time against Old Dominion
The Pack leads the overall series, 18-13, between the two border opponents. NC State has won four of the last five meetings, including a 74-58 win last season at home. Chones contributed 10 points and six rebounds, feeding off of five assists from Rivers and four from Labador. She also had one block. The team shot 52.8 percent from the floor and was 6-13 from the arc. For the Monarchs, Howard led all scorers with 19, while Coker added eight points and eight rebounds.
The last five contests
11/26/01, NC State win, 74-58; 11/24/98, ODU win, 75-72; 3/21/98, NC State win, 55-54 (NCAA East Regional); 11/17/97, NC State win, 65-62 (Preseason NIT, second round)
Injury Update
Sophomore guard Rachel Stockdale will redshirt this season after she had surgery on her right knee recently. The surgery is called a lateral release, which is basically a cutting and reattachment of the IT band. Stockdale played just two games for the Pack this season. She finished with 13 points, including a 4-7 performance at the arc. She also tallied four rebounds and two assists. Freshman Jennifer Filipowski is still day-to-day.
Also ...
Junior forward Adeola Olanrewaju is on a leave of absence for an undetermined period of time. Olanrewaju led the team in rebounds with 8.0 per game, riding on the heals on an 11-rebound performance versus Loyola Marymount, Saturday, Dec. 1. She was also averaging 4.0 points per game in 25 minutes a contest after starting two of the four games played this season.
What Just Happened
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - NC State closed the game with an 18-1 run and held Seton Hall without a field goal in the final 7:41 to earn a 71-61 victory Saturday at Walsh Gym in women's basketball action. NC State improves to 5-5, while Seton Hall falls to 4-4. Kaayla Chones led the Wolfpack for the sixth time in eight games with highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds to notch her 16th career double-double and third of the season. Forward Alvine Mendeng, who entered the lineup after sitting a year out to fulfill transfer eligibility requirements, came off of the bench to contribute 13 points and seven rebounds, including five of six free throws down the stretch. NC State, despite turning the ball over 24 times, outscored Seton Hall at the free throw line, 22-15. All 22 of the Wolfpack's free throws came in the second half. Sparked by two three-pointers from reserve guard Liz Bailey, the Wolfpack turned a 60-53 deficit with 4:35 left into a 61-60 lead, then hit 11 of 13 free throws down the stretch as the Pirates struggled to score.
And Then There Was One
This is the non-conference finale for NC State. The Pack is 5-5 in non-conference play heading into the Old Dominion game, including 2-1 on the road. Additionally, NC State is 7-5 at ODU. ACC competition begins this Thursday, Jan. 2, with Maryland at home, 7 p.m.
Looking Ahead at Maryland (5-4)
The Pack leads the all-time series, 37-25 and is 20-6 while facing the Terps at home. Last season, NC State won both meetings with similar scores of 62-55 and 66-54. This season, Maryland has been up and down, first winning two-straight, then losing four, then winning two more heading into its tournament at Florida this weekend. Perhaps the Terps worst loss came against then No. 13 Penn State, Dec. 4, 101-74. Their best win came against Coppin State, Dec. 15, 66-43. SR F Rennieka Razor leads the team with 16.7 ppg and 6.3 rpg. She also has 31 steals and five blocks FR C Angel Ross is adding 6.3 rebounds a contest and has tallied 11 blocks and steals. JR C/F Delvona Oliver, a transfer from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, will join the Terrapins in Miami at the Gatorade Holiday Classic. Maryland is currently ranked seventh in the ACC. They are under the direction of first year head coach, Brenda Frese, who last season guided Minnesota to a 22-8 record.
Bad Beginnings
* The loss against UC Santa Barbara was the first home opener loss in Wolfpack Women history. There have been 15 total home openers since 1974.
* The last time the Pack had an 0-2 start was Coach Yow's first season as head coach in 1975-76. NC State finished that season with a 19-7 overall record. Following that start, the team went on an eight-game winning streak.
* 1999 (17-12) was the only time NC State had a three-game losing streak.
* The Pack has never started a season at 1-3. There have been eight times when the women had a 2-2 start, with the most recent coming in the 1998-99 season, the same year as the three-game losing streak.
* The Pack has only had three losing seasons: 2001-02, 1993-94 and 1987-88.
* In 1987-88, NC State was 5-5 after 10 games and went on to finish 10-17. The slate however featured 10 games against top 20 opponents.
* The Pack went 3-5 in 1998-99 and finished 17-12 ... NC State lost three-straight and then went on to win five consecutive from Dec. 21 until Jan. 7.
* The Pack's two home losses to begin the season, along with a 2001-02 season-ending home loss to Clemson, ties the NC State record for three consecutive losses in Reynolds.
Similar Starts
A look at two seasons may bring back memories for some NC State fans. The 1987-88 season started the same way as the Pack's current slate, 5-5. Unfortunately it went on to complete the schedule at 10-17. A redeeming factor is the strength of schedule which featured 10, top 20 teams. In 1998-99, the team started out 3-5, but went on a five-game winning streak from De. 21-Jan. 7. That team finished 17-12. The Pack is currently on a two-game winning streak, including two of the five needed to match the 1998-99 season.
Pack's Points
* The Pack is 0-3 against ranked opponents this season. The first loss came against No. 25 UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 22, the second came from No. 6 UConn in the Women's Jimmy V Classic, Nov. 24 and the third from No. 22 BYU, Dec. 14.
*The Pack leads in three categories over its opponents this season, including rebounds, 391-386, assists, 165-164 and blocks, 29-22. This is the first time the Pack has surpassed in more than one category.
* The Pack is led by Chones with 18.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg, including 13 blocks.
* The Pack's Jennifer Filipowski has not played in any games thus far as she rehabilitates her right knee.
* The Pack's Billie McDowell has been the only freshman to play in any games this season and earned her first career start against LMU after she recorded her first double-double versus Iowa, 11 pts, 10 rebounds. Thus far she has tallied two double-digit scoring games and is averaging 4.0 ppg in 10.7 minutes a contest.
*Six Wolfpack Women have scored in double-digits this year ... Chones has in all 10 games, Moody has six times, James five times, Labador four times, McDowell twice, Simpson and Mendeng one time each.
*For the Pack, six games have resulted in double-figure rebounding performances, with McDowell, Olanrewaju, Chones and Moody each doing the deed.
*Labador has scored in double-figures, four of last six games, including one double-double, vs. Florida (10 p, 10 r). She is third on the team in shot percentage with 43.5 percent.
* Moody is also on the rise as she has posted double-figure games, six of the last seven contests, including a double-double against Florida. She ranks second on the team in shot percentage at 45.3 percent.
* NC State is looking to earn its first three-game winning streak this season in the game at Old Dominion.
* The Pack has slowly improved its rebounding and shooting performances. In the team's four wins in the last six games, the Pack has scored 70 points or more and outrebounded their opponent three times.
* The Pack is 4-2 with the lineup of James, Simpson, Labador, Moody and Chones.
*Since Mendeng has entered the lineup the Pack is on a two-game winning streak.
* For the first time this season, NC State is not in last place in the ACC. The Pack has improved to eighth.
Mending With Mendeng
Since the entry of junior forward Alvine Mendeng on Dec. 18, the Wolfpack has won both games with her as the sixth man. She recorded her first double-digit performance at NC State with her 13 points at Seton Hall. She also grabbed seven rebounds. The team went on to win 71-61. Her first career game was played in the Pack's 72-55 win over Elon on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Mendeng played 27 minutes in her first appearance. She had two steals and one block to go along with her seven points and eight rebounds. After two games she is averaging 10 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest to go along with two blocks and two steals.
Double-Trouble
Chones has three double-doubles, 16 career double-doubles ... all 10 games for her have been double-digit scoring performances ... Moody has scored in double-digits six of the last seven, including her first season double-double against Florida ... Labador has netted double-digits four of the last six games ... James has earned five double-digit games this season ... McDowell took home her first double-double and has two double-digit scoring performances ... Simpson earned her first double-digit outing this season against Florida, while Mendeng achieved her first double-digit against Seton Hall, netting 13 points.
Ooh-wee it's Millie
SR G Amelia Labador ("Millie") has been raising a few eye-brows this season as she brings her shooting range and tenacious defense. Labador is currently ranked fifth the ACC in 3-point shot percentage at 40, 10/25. She has contributed in other ways as well, posting four double-digit performances in her six consecutive starts. She recorded a double-double in the Pack's win over East Carolina earlier this season and has been close other times to achieving the same result. She is averaging 8.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg as a guard and has 11 steals. Labador is second on the team in assists with 28.
Around the ACC
* Two teams remain in the AP Poll, Duke is still holding strong at No. 1, while North Carolina moved up to 13th.
* Duke remains unbeaten at 11-0, while Georgia Tech has regained second place at 9-1. North Carolina and Wake Forest hold strong at third with an 8-1 record.
* Alana Beard of Duke was named ACC Player of the Week three-straight weeks and added another honor this past week ... North Carolina's La'Tangela Atkinson earned her second Rookie of the Week nod this past week.
* Georgia Tech is on an eight-game winning streak, which includes a 65-61 upset over No. 24 Georgia this past weekend.
* Chones leads the ACC in career double-doubles with 16 ... third in the ACC in FG percentage at 59.0 ... she also ranks third in scoring with 18.5 ppg ... the center leads the ACC in defensive rebounds with 6.0 per game ... she is third in 20-point games with four.
* The ACC collectively is 64-21 (.755) against non-conference teams this season, 39-8 at home, 12-11 on the road and 15-1 in tournament play.
9 Double O
Kay Yow coached her 900th career game on Saturday, Dec. 7. NC State was victorious for the 28-year head coach, as it went on to defeat Florida 81-77. Only three other coaches have such longevity: Jody Conradt, Sue Gunter and Pat Summitt. Going for 1,000, she has 903 and counting.
RPI Rankings
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association(WBCA)/Summerville RPI rankings have NC State at the No. 46, while it drops from 10th No. 20 in strength of schedule. Duke leads all ACC schools at No. 11 RPI and 171 SofS.
Four Sign to National Letter of Intent
Four players - LaKeisha Brown (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian), Marquetta Dickens (Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro HS), Kamela Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa./Clairton HS) and Ashley Key (Atlanta, Ga./Landmark Christian) signed national letters of intent to play for NC State beginning in the 2003-04 season.
Honoring Yow
Coach Yow was honored before the NC State football game versus Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 2. She was given a photo of her enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame, signed by every athletic department employee and named an Honorary Alumnus by the NCSU Alumni Association.
In Case You Haven't Heard
With Coach Yow's induction into the Hall of Fame, NC State becomes just the second NCAA school in history to have both a men's and women's basketball coach in the Hall. Yow joins the legendary Everett Case, who was NC State's head coach from 1946-65 and finished with a record of 377-134. He was enshrined on May 3, 1982. UCLA was the first school to be recognized in such a way. Both John Wooden and Billie Moore are in the Hall.
Going For A Grand
Three Wolfpack Women will be shooting for 1,000 career points this season. Moody, Chones and Simpson are on pace to reach the grand mark. Moody needs 125, Chones needs 128 points, while Simpson needs 241. There are 16 former Wolfpackers who have scored 1,000 or more points in their careers. Leading the list is Trudy Lacey with 1,957 points. Genia Beasley is NC State's all-time leading scorer with 2,367 points from 1977-1980. All told, the Wolfpack Women have seen 20 former players pass through Reynolds and score more than 1,000 points.
The Honorable Ms. Chones
Redshirt junior Kaayla Chones, who just one year ago took home two ACC honors returns as a starting forward/center, returns to once again reign the paint. The redshirt was named second team All-ACC and second team All-ACC tournament last season after leading the NC State squad with 12.3 ppg and 7.0 rpg. Chones was ranked in the ACC's top five in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. She scored in double figures 18 times in 2002 and 10 times this season and has tallied 16 career double-doubles. Also, she poured in 31 points for a career high against Georgia Tech, Jan. 6, 2002. She is on pace to reach 1,000 points this season, after scoring 330 and 357 her freshman and r-sophomore years. So far this year she has scored in double-digits in every game, including a team-high 25 versus No. 25 UC Santa Barbara. She currently leads the team in scoring average and rebounds per game with 18.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg.
TV on the Way
NC State will play in its first televised game this season when it heads to North Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 5. The game is scheduled to broadcast live at 1 p.m. on the Regional Sports Network. After its game at Florida State on Jan. 8, the Pack will play at home for back-to-back RSN games, including Viginia on Jan. 12 and Clemson on Jan. 20. The Virginia game is scheduled for 1 p.m., while the Clemson game will not tip-off until 7 p.m.
ACC Schedule
* The 2002-03 ACC schedule is highlighted with 38 televised games, including 11 national showings. ESPN2 and FOX Sports Net will run five games each, while ESPN is slated for one. Also, 25 conference match-ups and two non-conference games will be seen via Comcast Sports Net, FOX Sports Net South and the Sunshine Network.
* Entering its fourth season at the Greensboro Coliseum, the ACC Tournament is set for March 7-10. Five of the eight games will be shown on television. The 2003 tournament marks the second time two quarterfinal games will be aired on Comcast Sports Net, FOX Sports Net South and the Sunshine Network. In addition, both semifinal games will be televised on FOX Sports Net, as well as the ACC Championship game.
* ACC women's basketball will also be featured in a one hour show on FOX Sports Net, Nov. 24, 6 p.m.
* The ACC's non-conference schedule features nearly 25 teams facing 15, 2002 NCAA Tournament participants, including three games against the Connecticut champions.
The Wolfpack Slate
On the slate for the Wolfpack are 10 teams that advanced to the first round, including Virginia, Clemson, Florida, Iowa, UC Santa Barbara, Brigham Young, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Duke and Connecticut. Virginia, Clemson and Florida were knocked out after the first game, when Virginia fell to Iowa (69-62), Clemson lost to Arkansas (78-68) and Florida was eliminated by BYU (90-52). In the round of 32, UCSB was retired by Texas (76-60) and Iowa dropped to Connecticut (86-48). Two teams were eliminated in the Sweet 16 as Vanderbilt stopped North Carolina (70-61) and BYU lost to Tennessee (68-57). The Elite 8 saw Old Dominion fall to Connecticut (85-64). Duke advanced to the Final Four but was finished by Oklahoma (86-71). And then, after Connecticut made its way through the tournament unscathed, it finished with a perfect 39-0 record after defeating Oklahoma, 82-70, to become the national champion.
NC State To Host NCAA First/Second Rounds
NC State has been selected as one of 16 sites for the 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship. Reynolds Coliseum will host the four teams for the two-day event Sunday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 25.
Head Coach Kay Yow
One of the most admired and respected coaches on the international and collegiate basketball scene, Coach Kay Yow was elected for enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame on June 5, 2002. She has amassed over 568 wins in her 27 years at the helm of the NC State women's basketball program, including a trip to the Final Four in Kansas City in 1998. She eclipsed the 600-win milestone for her career on Jan. 11, 2001 with a win over Temple in front of the Wolfpack faithful in Reynolds Coliseum. She currently ranks as the fifth winningest active Division I women's basketball coach with 625 career victories. Yow celebrated her 25th season as the head coach at NC State and Sunday, February 13, 2000 was proclaimed 'Kay Yow Day' in Raleigh by Mayor Paul Coble. In addition to being honored with the John and Nellie Wooden Award, Yow was named the 2000 National Coach of the Year by Sports Illustrated for Women. On June 10, 2000, Yow was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. She was part of just the second class to be inducted into the Hall. In addition to these accomplishments, Yow notched her 19th 20-win season in 2001 and led the Wolfpack Women to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight year. Yow led the Pack to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the 10th time in her tenure. NC State was once again ranked in the top-25 the entire season. Yow has been very successful in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Her squads are 232-119 in 25 years of play in one of the toughest conferences in the country. NC State has reached the finals in 11 of the 25 ACC Tournaments and captured the league title in 1980, 1985, 1987, and 1991. The Wolfpack also won the regular season ACC title in 1978, 1980, 1983, 1985 and 1990. The 1991-92 team was a high-powered offensive team, setting 13 team records, including the highest scoring average ever by a Wolfpack squad, netting an average of 91.0 points in 33 games. In her 27 years at the helm of the Wolfpack program, Yow has produced a number of great players, including 12 All-Americans and 38 All-ACC selections. In 1999, Summer Erb became the second player in the history of the program to be named the ACC Player of the Year. Numerous Wolfpack players have competed on international squads, including the U.S. Select team, Pan American, World University, and the Jones Cup. Eight of her former players have advanced to compete in the WNBA. The Wolfpack were represented by four former players in the 2001 WNBA Finals. In 2002, Coach Yow received the Star Award from the Women's Center of Wake County. The award was presented to her by last year's recipient, Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. The award is given to recognize the achievements of individuals in the corporate community whose actions have made a positive impact on the lives of women and their families in the community.
Yow Career Highlights
* Recorded first win at NC State, 68-64 vs Charleston, Jan.10, 1976
* Won school's first ACC game, 84-82 against Clemson, Jan. 27, 1976
* In the ACC's first year, NC State claimed the league title in 1978
* Recorded 100th victory at NC State with 98-764 win over Mississippi
* Won first ACC Championship in 1980
* Played in first NCAA game, defeating Northwestern 75-71 March 13, 1982
* Won 100th ACC game with 62-61 victory over Wake Forest, Feb. 18, 1988
* Earned 500th career win with 68-63 victory over Georgia Tech, Jan. 15, 1996
* Directed the Pack to its first NCAA Final Four appearance, March 27, 1998
* Won 500th game at NC State in a 66-57 decision over New Hampshire, making her the third coach to reach such a milestone, Dec. 28, 1998
* Became the second coach to reach 200 ACC victories with an 85-60 win at Wake Forest, Jan. 24, 1999
* Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, June 10, 2000
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Sept. 27, 2002
* Will have coached 900 career games, Dec. 7, 2002
* Has 19, 20-win seasons, 7th in the NCAA
* Coached 31 seasons at the Division I level, third in the NCAA
* Currently has four former players in the WNBA
