North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Florida State
Wolfpack Tops Seminoles, 64-60
2/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2002
Raleigh,N.C.--Kaayla Chones tallied 13 points, while Rachel Stockdale and Adeola Olanrewaju scored 11 each to lead the NC State Wolfpack Women to a 64-60 victory over the Florida State Seminoles in Reynolds Coliseum Thursday evening. The Wolfpack improved to 12-12 overall (6-7 ACC), while Florida State fell to 13-12 overall with a 4-10 mark in conference play.
The Wolfpack jumped out to an 18-7 lead just 5:48 into the game on a three-pointer from the top of the key by Stockdale. The lead fluctuated all half for NC State as Florida State rallied several times in the closing minutes to cut the Wolfpack advantage to six at halftime (38-32). Florida State also scored 19 of its 32 first-half points on 11 Wolfpack turnovers to stay close in the first 20 minutes.
Florida State continued to chip away at the NC State lead at the beginnning of the second stanza and got the lead down to one before the Pack pulled away once again. Olanrewaju's layup at 11:52 put the Wolfpack up by eight, but that would not be enough to put away the fiesty Seminoles as they came back to tie the game at 56 on Lauren Bradley's free throw with 4:40 left.
Sophomore Nanna Rivers drained two free throws to give NC State a 63-60 lead with seven seconds left, forcing Florida State to settle for a three-point attempt that never came. Bradley was charged with an offensive foul, her fifth personal of the night, in an attempt to clear Seminole standout Tasheika Morris for a jumper from the left corner. Stockdale then went to the line and hit one of two free throws to clinch the game for the Wolfpack, who snapped a three game losing streak with the victory.
"It was a really tough game," said NC State head coach Kay Yow. "We started off strong and it seemed like we got a little sluggish. I give the team credit, down the stretch because when we had to make defensive stops, we made them."
"They outplayed us and we came close," said Florida State head coach Sue Semrau. "We weren't able to finish and execute the way we needed to and credit their defense for that."
Morris led all scorers with 16 points on 7-17 shooting from the floor. Shinikki Whiting also had 10 for the Seminoles, who have won just two of their last eight contests.
The Wolfpack is at fifth-ranked Duke on Monday at 7:30, while Florida State will also face Duke next, on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
