North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Tournament Field Set: Elon, Liberty, Southern Miss
12/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. -
After facing back-to-back ranked opponents this past week (#6 Rutgers and #19 Vanderbilt), NC State (3-2) is looking to build on its 12-game non-conference home winning streak and its own tournament success when it welcomes Elon (2-2), Liberty (2-1) and Southern Miss (2-3) to the NC State Tournament this weekend, Dec. 3 and 4. The Wolfpack takes on Elon at 1 p.m. and Liberty versus Southern Mississippi follows at around 3 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 4 the two non-victorious teams will play 1 p.m. for third place, while the championship game is set for 3:15 p.m. between the winning teams from Saturday. NC State is 3-0 against the field of three, which includes a 2-0 record over Elon and a 1-0 record against Southern Miss. NC State has never played Liberty. Both Wolfpack games can be heard live on WKNC FM 88.1 with Patrick Kinas and Demar Bonnemere.
About the NC State Wolfpack
After upsetting No. 19/20 Vanderbilt, 76-67 on Wednesday night, NC State is looking to pick up two wins this weekend to sway Associated Press and coaches voting in the national polls to put the Wolfpack back in the Top 25 after a two-week absence. NC State was ranked 22nd and 24th prior to dropping out after losing at Saint Joseph's on Nov. 20. Junior point guard Ashley Key set a new career high in scoring twice in three games. She scored 22 points against Iowa State on Saturday and then improved it by one to 23 points against Vanderbilt on Wednesday. She has posted three double figure scoring games in five tries. She has also added seven assists in two games and five assists in two games. The team's leading scorer, sophomore Khadijah Whittington has recorded double figure outings in four games, including the last two, and posted two double-doubles. She is averaging 13.2 ppg and also leads the team in rebounding with 9.0 rpg, which is third in the Atlantic Coast Conference stats. Senior center, Tiffany Stansbury has also posted four double figure scoring games, including the last two and is averaging 11.8 ppg. Defensively, NC State is holding opponents to just 38.4 percent from the floor and forcing an average of 17.4 turnovers per game, while outrebounding the opposition by a margin of +8.8 each contest. The Pack will host Delaware State before heading out to Las Vegas for its third, two-game tournament at the Duel in the Desert, Dec. 17-18, which is hosted by UNLV in the Cox Pavillion.
About Elon
The Elon Phoenix are entering the tournament with a 2-2 record. The team has posted two-straight losses after opening the season at 2-0. Elon recently lost at Xavier, 62-51 on Nov. 25 before falling to Kent State, 57-54 on Nov. 26 in the Xavier Tournament in Cincinnati. The Phoenix have two players averaging double figures, led by sophomore forward Kitara McMoore's 15.8 ppg. She also leads the team in rebounding with 6.8 boards a contest. Sophomore guard Robyn Shipley is second in scoring with her 12.5 ppg. Elon's offense recorded a 51-point win over Guilford in the second game of the year, Nov. 20. Defensively, the Phoenix are holding opponents to 31.2 percent shooting, but have a narrow lead in the rebound category with a +0.8 rebound margin. NC State is 2-0 all-time against Elon.
All-Time vs. Southern Conference
NC State is 47-1 all-time against SoCon opponents and is 25-0 in Raleigh. The Wolfpack knocked off UNC Greensboro in the season opener this year, 76-46.
NC State
Overall Record: 3-2
H/A/N Records: 2-0/0-1/1-1
NC State vs. Elon
3rd meeting overall State leads 2-0
H/A/N: 2-0/0-0/0-0
Last Meeting:
12/18/02, in Raleigh, ST 72, ELON 55
NC State vs. Liberty:
First Meeting
NC State vs. Southern Miss:
Second meeting overall State leads 1-0
H/A/N: 1-0/0-0/0-0
NC State vs. SoCon: 46-1
NC State vs. Big South: 9-1
NC State vs. C-USA: 33-4
NC State in recent games:
Def. #19/20 Vanderbilt, 76-67 Nov. 30
Lost to #6/7 Rutgers, 66-56 Nov. 26
Next Opponent (after Tournament)
Dec. 11 vs. Delaware State at home, 2 p.m.
Head Coach Kay Yow
31st Season at ST: 620-291
35th Overall: 677-310
Elon (as of Nov. 30)
Overall Record: 2-2
H/A/N Records: 2-0/0-1/0-1
Next Opponent: High Point, 12/6
2004-05 Record: 4-24
Head Coach Brenda Paul:
140-171 (12)/420-370 (28)
Liberty (as of Nov. 30)
Overall Record: 2-1
H/A/N Records: 2-0/0-1/0-0
Next Opponent: vs. Virginia Tech, 12/10
2004-05 Record: 26-7
NCAA Sweet 16
Head Coach Carey Green:
143-47 (6)/143-7 (6)
Southern Miss (as of Nov. 30)
Overall Record: 2-3
H/A/N Records: 1-2/1-1/0-0
Next Opponent: vs. Jackson State, 12/9
2004-05 Record: 9-19
Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis:
11-22 (2)/240-178 (15)
