North Carolina State University Athletics
Women's Hoops Takes on Loyola Marymount in Season Opener
11/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. -
Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The NC State women's basketball team will begin the 2003-04 schedule on Friday, Nov. 21, when it hosts Loyola Marymount at the RBC Center at 6:30 p.m. The game, which is the season opener for both squads, will precede the NC State men's basketball season opener, which will begin at 8:30 p.m., as part of a double-header.
NC State begins the 2003-04 regular season with a set of two weekend games, the first being Loyola Marymount on Friday at 6:30 p.m., and the second is with No. 2 Texas at noon on Sunday, Nov. 23. The Pack began full-court action last Sunday, Nov. 16, when it hosted the Premier Players in the only exhibition game this season. NC State took home the 81-79 victory. Senior Kaayla Chones finished with a team-high 20 points and seven rebounds, while two others collected double-doubles, freshman Keisha Brown had 13 points, 10 boards and senior Alvine Mendeng added 13 points and 14 rebounds to lead the team. The Pack welcomes back two redshirt players, sophomore Rachel Stockdale and freshman Jennifer Filipowski, also redshirt sophomore Monica Pope joins the team. Stockdale was an All-ACC freshman in 2001-02, Filipowski will play in her first game and Pope transferred prior to last season from Furman, but had to sit out to fulfill transfer requirements.
NC State has faced the Lions of LMU just one time before, which took place last season on Nov. 30, 2002. The Lions edged the Wolfpack 66-58. Last year NC State visited LMU as part of the Thanksgiving Classic at the school, Nov. 29 and 30. The team defeated Iowa 69-66 in overtime, before facing the host. Chones was the only player to reach double-figures with her 13 points.
The Pack is 2-1 in games play on Nov. 21, 25-4 in home openers and 24-4 under Coach Yow. This will be the first home opener played at the RBC Center. The men and women have never opened their seasons with a double-header. However the two teams have opened the season on the same day at home, including in 1998-99 and in 2002-03. In addition, the two teams have opened on the road together three times, 1978-79, 1983-84 and in 1990-91.
The Lions finished the exhibition part of the season with a 1-1 outcome. The win came from the Play Mode All-Stars on Nov. 16, 80-73 and lost to Love and Basketball on Nov. 6, 97-91 in two overtime periods. Senior center Adrianne Slaughter led the Lions with 20 points and nine boards. LMU brings back all five of their starters, including Slaughter, who finished last season with 10.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg. LMU hired Julie Brase to be an assistant coach, she is the granddaughter of Hall of Fame head coach Lute Olsen, who was inducted with Coach Yow last September.
The squad returns 12 players and 11 letterwinners. Senior Kate Murray, who redshirted her senior year after suffering a knee injury after just five games, returns. Murray's contribution at the small forward position provided 15.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg. She along with Slaughter at the five -spot packs some power in the paint. The team is on an East Coast swing, as they will continue on towards the water to take on UNC-Wilmington on Sunday, Nov. 23. This season, LMU won its first game when it hosted Love & Basketball in the first of two exhibition games. In that game, five Lions reached double-figures. Sophomore guard Bianca Ziemann led the pride with 18 points. The 2003-04 team welcomes back 12 letterwinners and five returning starters. They are led by ninth year head coach Julie Wilhoit.
NC State will continue its opening weekend against No. 2 Texas on Sunday, before preparing for a trip westward to No. 24 Oregon for the Oregon Classic. While in Oregon, the Wolfpack will face Sacramento State and Oregon over the Thanksgiving holiday.
