North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Virginia
Wolfpack Downs Virginia, 72-67
2/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - NC State won its fifth-straight ACC game with a 72-67 decision at Virginia on Sunday afternoon at University Hall.
"This has traditionally been a tough place for us to win," said NC State head coach Kay Yow. "Both teams played a great first half." The Cavaliers fell 12-12 overall and 5-7 in the ACC, while NC State improved to 15-11 overall and 7-6 in the league after winning six of its last seven games. The win also moved NC State into third place overall in the ACC standings.
"It was very frustrating," said Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan. "We put them at the line too much. They scored 21 points from the line in the second half. That hurts."
In the first half, the teams played a tight game and entered the locker room with a 24-24 tie.
In the second half, the Cavaliers opened up with a 11-0 run with a three-point bucket from Anna Prillaman and two from freshman Brenna McGuire to take a 12-point lead, 45-33 with 11:08 to play. NC State whittled away to recapture the lead for good, 49-47 with 6:21 to go. During that stretch the Wolfpack went on a 22-5 run over seven minutes. UVa pulled within three points nine times over the last five minutes of action, but just couldn't get over the hump. The Wolfpack converted 21 of 27 free throws in the second half, 10 in the last minute of play.
"We had a big lead and then couldn't finish," Ryan added.
"Our ability to hit free throws helped to win this game," Yow said.
Junior LaTonya Blue paced UVa with 17 points, six assists, and six steals, while junior Jocelyn Logan-Friend added a career-high 14 points. Prillaman finished with 10 points.
"We're a pretty good defensive team when we want to be," Ryan said. "You have to give (NC State) credit. They made shots."
NC State's Marquetta Dickens came off the bench for a career and game-high 21 points. Alvine Mendeng added 17 points.
Overall, NC State out-rebounded Virginia, 35-27.
NC State will host Florida State (12-11, 5-7) at Reynolds Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m. The Seminoles host Wake Forest on Monday.
