North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Appalachian State
Pack Defeats Mountaineers in Final Non-Conference Game, 82-42
12/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State (8-5) opened the second half with a 17-5 run over the opening five minutes to pull away from visiting Appalachian State (1-9) on Wednesday, Dec. 31 in Reynolds Coliseum. Seniors Kaayla Chones and Alvine Mendeng poured in 18 points apiece to lead the Wolfpack to a 82-42 win in its final tuneup befor the conference season. Chones, who notched her 25th-career double-double, had 12 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, hitting each of her four attempts from the free throw line. Mendeng, who netted a season-high point total, was 8-of-9 from the field.
"This was a good finish for us in the non-conference schedule," said NC State coach Kay Yow. "We beat some very good teams and competed hard, but I would have liked to have had more wins. I really saw positive results from our practices this week. In the second half we did some very nice things and shot the ball particularly well. We played solid defense the entire game, and that really sparked us on offense."
Both teams got off to a slow start, but NC State was the first to score nearly three minutes into the contest. The Pack widened its lead going into the half with a 13-0 run beginning at the 7:04 mark. NC State held a 31-17 advantage at the end of the period.
The Pack added to its lead with a 7-0 run to open the second half. Chones found Mendeng in the paint for an easy jumper. Free throws by senior Nanna Rivers and Mendeng, along with a jumper by junior Kendra Bell aided the effort, as NC State scored 51 points in the period. NThe Pack led by as many as 41 late in the second period, guided down the stretch by sophomore Billie McDowell, who added eight points in only seven minutes on the court.
The Pack had its best performance of the season from the free throw line, hitting 81.6 percent on 18-of-22 shooting. NC State held the Mountaineers to just 24.1 percent (14-of-58) from the field, while hitting 56.3 percent of its shots in the second half. Twenty-two of the Pack's 31 field goals were assisted. The Wolfpack totaled 46 points in the paint, and 25 off of Appalachian State turnovers.
Freshman Marquetta Dickens had a season-high eight rebounds and added five assists. Rivers also had five assists.
ASU's Kiki Conyers had a team-high 12 points, and Aisha Bryant added 10 off of the bench for the Mountaineers.
NC State makes a quick turnaround and heads to College Park, Md. to face the Terrapins in its conference opener on Jan. 2. Maryland (8-3) is coming off a 63-60 overtime win in the Surf-and-Slam Tournament in San Diego, Calif. against D.C. area foe Georgetown. Tip for the contest is set for 7 p.m. and can be heard locally on 88.1 WKNC.
