North Carolina State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Travels to Georgia Tech
1/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. -
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Georgia Tech (12-6, 1-5 ACC) -The Report
Recorded first ACC victory with 89-78 overtime over Clemson at home on Thursday, also ended five-game losing streak since ACC play opened ... prior to ACC play, GT was on a 10-game winning streak ... SR C Sonja Mallory, an All-American and All-ACC candidate posted 19th career double-double, 7th this season, with 23 points and 14 rebounds, which included 10 offensive caroms ... had five score in double-figures, including another 23 points from JR G Megan Isom ... currently outrebounding its opponents by nearly nine per contest (813-654) ... Mallory is averaging 17.4 ppg and13.2 in ACC play, also grabbing 11.7 rebounds per meeting in ACC contests ... participated in the preseason WNIT, defeated Charlotte 67-57, but lost to Kansas State, 83-59 ... Mallory leads the ACC in rebounding with 9.8 per game, offensive with 4.3 a game and blocks with 1.83 per game ... have seven freshmen, FR F Kasha Terry the only one to start ... ACL trouble for the Wreck has FR F April Johnson out and SR G Nina Barlin sidelined, both in the left knee ... Barlin was an All-American and All-ACC candidate ... the squad is 10-2 when playing at home in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Quick Note: From 1980-1987, NC State won 16-straight meetings ... since 1994, GT has won just six games in 20 match ups ... have just three reserves on the bench, all freshmen ... Kaayla Chones recorded her career-high 31 points against the Wreck last season, Jan. 6.
Next Tip
It comes down to Duke as NC State could upend the Blue Devils' 18-game winning streak and repeat history as the last team to defeat the No. 1 ranked team. Duke arrives at NC State for a 7 p.m. game on Jan. 29. The final rotation of ACC games will begin with Maryland on Feb. 1.
The Last Time against Georgia Tech
NC State split the two meetings with the Wreck last season ... the Pack won the first game, 75-63, but lost the second time around, 69-57 ... in the win, Chones recorded her career-high 31 points in 35 minutes ... Chones also led the scoring in the loss, but with 13.
Last six games: 2/7/02, Georgia Tech Won 69-57; 1/6/02, NC State Won 75-63; 2/15/01, NC State Won 74-68; 12/6/00, NC State Won 77-63; 3/6/00 (ACC Tourn.), Georgia Tech Won 71-62; 2/24/00, Georgia Tech Won 69-52; 11/30/99, NC State Won 80-70.
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 had a scope done on her right knee. Not practicing. Senior Amy Simpson is still playing with a bruised right rib cage.
It Happened...
NC State broke through the .500 barrier and earned its first winning record of the season with the 70-7 decision at Wake Forest Thursday evening. The Pack now sits at 9-8 and 4-2 in the ACC. The squad also extended its winning streak to three overall, the longest this season. NC State now has the opportunity to go two-straight on the road if it earns a win at Georgia Tech. The Pack has never won more than one road game consecutively this season.
Kaayla's Countdown
Chones needs just 46 points to reach 1,000 for her career. With her current average of 15.7 ppg, the center could possibly achieve the milestone at any point within the next three games. The Wolfpack will face Georgia Tech, Duke and Maryland next on the slate.
What Just Happened
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --- NC State women's basketball extended its winning streak to three with a 70-57 win over Wake Forest on Thursday, Jan. 23. The win also improved the Wolfpack to its first winning record of the season at 9-8 and 4-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Demon Deacons dropped to 10-6 and 1-5 in the ACC. NC State had two women finish with double-figure scoring efforts. Redshirt-junior Kaayla Chones collected 19 points and 13 rebounds, which included 11 defensive, to earn her 19th career double-double and sixth this season. Senior Carisse Moody tallied 16 points and four rebounds. The Decons were led by Tonia Brown with 17 points and six rebounds.
A Long and Winding Road
The Pack can't seem to find a roll yet this season. The resulting schedule has produced a somewhat winding trail as NC State winds in and out between wins and losses. First there were two losses, No. 6 UConn and No. 25 UC Santa Barbara. Then there was a victory, Iowa. Then another loss. The month of December resulted in a loss against Loyola Marymount, a win over East Carolina, a loss versus Washington, a win facing Florida, a loss after hosting No. 22 Brigham Young and then back-to-back victories against Elon and at Seton Hall. However the month closed with a 24-pt. loss to Old Dominion. The ACC season brought new hope with a win against Maryland, but was quickly pushed aside after two-straight losses, No. 11 North Carolina and recently at Florida State. The Pack may have found a rhythm with its recent three-straight wins against Virginia, Clemson and Wake Forest.
Looking Ahead at Duke (18-0, 6-0 ACC)
The last time Duke lost an ACC game was the NC State on Feb. 18, 2001, 69-55 ... the Blue Devils have won the last 10 meetings between the two teams, allowing just three wins from the Pack since 1997 ... one of two teams in the NCAA (both men's and women's) with no losses at 18-0, UConn is the other ... from 1975-86 Duke managed only two wins to NC State's 20 ... have an RPI of 3 according to the Summerville/WBCA poll ... picked up solid wins against No. 2 Tennessee (76-55) in the Jimmy V Classic, No. 17 Arkansas 74-72 in overtime and recently at No. 8 North Carolina (78-67) in overtime ... JR G Alana Beard has been ACC Player of the Week, a record six times ... she scored 41 points against Virginia ... ranked No. 1 all year ... leads the ACC in 20-pt. games with 13 ... Beard also leads the team in both overall and ACC points per game averages with 26.0 and 24.3, respectively ... JR F Iciss Tillis is second on the squad with 15.3 ppg overall and 17.2 vs. ACC opponents ... Tillis reached the 1,000 point milestone this season, making her the third current roster member for the Blue Devils to reach such a goal, Beard and SR G Sheana Mosch are the other two ... Tillis is also the only Blue Devil that is averaging a double-double with her 10.3 rebounds per game in ACC games ... team is averaging only 13.3 turnovers per game, while recording 15.5 assists per contest ... JR G Vicki Krapohl leads the ACC in 3-pt. FG pct., averaging 43.1 percent (31/72).
Bad Beginnings
* The loss against No. 25 UC Santa Barbara was the first home opener loss in Wolfpack Women history. There have been 15 total home openers since 1974. It was the second time the Pack faced a ranked opponent to start the season. In 1999-2000 NC State defeated No. 10 Rutgers on opening day.
* 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 6-8 after 14 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 first 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.
* There have been two times when the Pack has been 9-8 mid-season. The first being in 1992-93, that team went on to finish 14-13. The other was in 1998-99, that team finished 17-12.
Similar Seasons?
A look at two seasons may bring back memories for some NC State fans. In 1992-93 the squad was 9-8 after 17 games, then went on to win two-straight. A redeeming factor is the strength of schedule which featured 10, top 20 teams. In 1998-99, the squad was 9-8 after 17 games and went on to finish with a 17-12 slate.
Pack's Points
* The Pack is 0-4 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, the third from No. 22 BYU, Dec. 14 and the fourth was a result of a 80-59 loss to No. 11 UNC.
*The Pack leads in three categories over its opponents this season, field goal percentage, 40.7-40.4, assists, 270-262 and blocks at 48-46 and assists.
* The 49 points earned by Virginia was the lowest offensive output by an opponent this season.
* The Pack is led by Chones with 15.7 ppg and 8.8 rpg, including 24 blocks, four of which she earned in career-high fashion against ODU.
* Chones is the only team member to be averaging a double-double in ACC play with 13.0 ppg and 10.8 rpg.
* 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 3.4 ppg in 11.4 minutes a contest. She is best known for her defensive pressure.
* Seven Wolfpack Women have scored in double-digits this year ... Chones has in 15-17 games, Moody has eight times, James six times, Labador seven times, Mendeng three times, McDowell twice and Simpson and Bailey one time.
*For the Pack, 11 games have resulted in double-figure rebounding performances, with McDowell, Olanrewaju, Chones, Labador and Moody each doing the deed.
* James is the only player to record double-figure assists with 11 against Maryland.
* Labador has scored in double-figures, seven of last 13 games, including one double-double, vs. Florida (10 p, 10 r). She is fourth on the team in shot percentage with 40.9 percent.
* The win against Virginia was the first time the Pack has seen just one player earn double-figures in a victory.
* There have been three games with only one person scoring in double-digits, Kaayla Chones has been the designee. The Pack is 1-2 when only one person does the deed.
* Moody has posted double-figure games, eight of the last 13 contests, including a double-double (18-10) against Florida. She ranks third on the team in shot percentage at 43.8 percent.
* The loss at Old Dominion was NC State's largest scoring deficit (24) against the Monarchs in the 32 games played. The previous high was 23 recorded in 1982.
* The loss to UNC was the Pack's biggest lost since 1995, when NC State scored 71 to UNC's 90.
* The Pack has played in two games where it has recorded a better shot percentage, but still lost. Versus Florida State the women shot 41.8 to 40.7 from the Noles. The other was to Washington when the women shot 54.7 percent, compared to 41.
* The Pack is 4-3 with the lineup of James, Simpson, Labador, Moody and Chones. And, 4-2 with James, Rivers, Labador, Chones and Mendeng.
* Since Mendeng has entered the lineup the Pack is 6-3 ... She earned her first start against Maryland ... finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.
* Chones is one of 10 all-time NC State players to record a career-high of 31 points.
* James is taking her role as a leader to the scoring ranks as she consistently improves with each game. At ODU she recorded a season-high 14 points after shooting a season-best 6-15 ... also recorded a career-high 11 assists against Maryland.
* The Pack is without the service of three players this season at this point, Rachel Stockdale, Jennifer Filipowski and Adeola Olanrewaju.
* Chones has 581 rebounds and 954 points for her career. She needs just 46 more points in the 10 remaining games to reach 1,000 points this season.
* Chones has led the ACC is defensive rebounds the entire season, she currently leads with 6.94 per outing ... Chones is one of two players in the ACC to record 19 rebounds in game this season.
* The Pack has a four-game winning streak at home, after defeating Clemson, Virginia, Maryland and Elon.
Mending With Mendeng
Since the entry of junior forward Alvine Mendeng on Dec. 18, the Wolfpack has recorded a record of 6-3. She recorded her first double-digit performance at NC State with her 13 points at Seton Hall. She also grabbed seven rebounds. After nine games she is averaging 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds per contest, second-highest on the squad, to go along with seven blocks and six steals in 23.0 mpg. In her six ACC games, she is averaging 10.5 ppg and 5.7 rpg. She also had a career-high 20 pts. in the win over Clemson.
Double-Trouble
Chones has five double-doubles, 18 career double-doubles ... 14-16 games for her have been double-digit scoring performances ... Moody has scored in double-digits seven of the last 13, including her first season double-double against Florida ... Labador has netted double-digits seven of the last 12 games ... James has earned seven 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 game against Seton Hall, netting 13 points, she now has three after a career-high 20 points against Maryland. Bailey also has one with her 12 points against Maryland.
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 to the lineup. She has contributed in other ways as well, posting seven double-digit performances in her 13 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 8.6 ppg and 3.0 rpg as a guard and has 15 steals. Labador is second on the team in assists with 40. She also ranks sixth in the ACC in 3-pt. pct., 18-51 (.353) and 14th in 3-ptrs. made with 18 (1.06 pg).
The Honorable Ms. Chones
Redshirt junior Kaayla Chones, who just one year ago took home two ACC honors returns as a starting forward/center. 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 15 times this season and has tallied 19 career double-doubles, including six this season. 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. She needs 46 points to complete 1,000 total. For her career, she has 581 rebounds. So far this year she has scored in double-digits 15-17 games, including a team-high 25 versus No. 25 UC Santa Barbara. She currently leads the team in scoring average and rebounds per game with 15.7 ppg and 8.8 rpg and has four, 20-pt. games.
* Chones leads the ACC in career double-doubles with 19 ... she also leads the nine-team conference in defensive rebounds with 6.94 a game ... is second in rebounds at 8.8 pg, and third in field goal pct. at 56.4 ... fourth in two categories, including scoring with 15.7 ppg and blocks at 1.41 pg ... 13th in free throw pct. at 62.4.
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. Chones needs 46 points, Moody needs 71 and Simpson needs 210. 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.
Within the ACC
The Pack leads in two categories in ACC play. SO G Liz Bailey leads in FG pct. making 8-17, for 47.1 percent. Chones leads in defensive rebounds with 8.83 pg. Bailey is also ranked seventh in 3-ptrs. made with eight in five games. Chones is ranked in several additional categories: second in rebounds with 10.8, eigth in blocked shots with seven, 13th in scoring with 13.0 ppg, 12th in assists with 3.17 pg and 14th in assist/turnover ratio with .76. Mendeng is ranked as well, including 17th in scoring at 10.5 ppg, 11th in both blocks (.83 pg), and defensive rebounds with 3.67 pg, and 12th in rebounding with 5.7 pg. Labador is next with a seventh ranking in 3-pt. FG pct. at 33.3 pct., 9th in 3 ptrs. made with eight and 26th in scoring with 8.0 ppg. James is at the top also ranking fourth in assists with 4.67 pg, sixth in assist/turnover ratio, 1.56. Moody wraps up the rankings with her ninth place spot in free throw pct. at 80.0 pct.
Around the ACC
* Other games on Super Bowl Sunday: Florida State at Duke, Georgetown at Virginia and Wake Forest at Clemson.
* Two teams remain in the AP Poll, Duke is still holding strong at No. 1, while North Carolina moved down to 9th with its 78-67 overtime loss to Duke. They are the only two teams which have been ranked all season in the AP Poll and USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Poll.
* Duke remains unbeaten at 18-0, while UNC remains in second at 16-2. Duke is the only team without a loss. Georgia Tech Wake Forest each have only one win in the ACC. WFU is on a four-game losing skid.
* Duke's Iciss Tillis was named ACC Player of the Week, while UNC's LaTangela Atkinson earned her fourth Rookie of the Week nod. She shared it with Virginia's Deidra Chatman.
* Alana Beard has six ACC Player of the Week accolades, breaking the record of five held by NC State's Chasity Melvin. Beard has 12 for her career.
* The ACC collectively is 75-25 (.750) in non-conference games thus far, including 44-9 at home, 14-14 on the road and 17-2 in tournament play.
RPI Rankings
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association(WBCA)/Summerville RPI rankings have NC State at the No. 39, while it remains in the top 10 at No. 7 in strength of schedule. Duke leads all ACC schools at No. 3 RPI and 29 SofS. UNC joins Duke above NC State with a No. 5 RPI and 16 SofS. NC State led all ACC teams in its non-conference schedule with a ranking of 11th. The conference is second in the nation in RPI. Duke and UConn are the only two teams unbeaten, 18-0, within both the men's and women's NCAA schedules.
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.
NC State to Host NCAA First and 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. The ESPN network will be televising all three games.
The Wolfpack Slate
On the docket for the Wolfpack are 10 teams that advanced to the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament, including Virginia, Clemson, Florida, Iowa, UC Santa Barbara, Brigham Young, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Duke and Connecticut. Four ACC teams advanced. Up to this point, the Pack is 2-4 against the 10 teams. Only four games remain to be played against the NCAA caliber competitors. Virginia, Clemson and Florida were knocked out in the first round. UCSB and Iowa were eliminated in the Round of 32. UNC and BYU fell in the Sweet 16. ODU dropped out after the Elite 8. Duke advanced to the Final Four, while Connecticut became the National Champion.
