North Carolina State University Athletics
No. 25 Wolfpack Prepares for Pivotal Game with Virginia
2/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 2, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. -
No. 25 NC State women's basketball hosts Virginia on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m., in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack is 15-5, 4-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while the Cavaliers are 16-5 and 5-2. NC State is coming off a close 52-49 loss to then No. 1 Duke, while UVa recently upset No. 24 Florida State in Tallahassee, 77-62, and has won its last three games. The meeting will mark 60th all-time between the two ACC squads and 28th in Raleigh. The game can be heard live on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Radio Network with Patrick Kinas on FM 88.1, FM 106.1 in Charlotte, 99.7 in Rocky Mount and AM 1230 in Fayetteville.
NC State remained as the No. 25 team in the nation as voted by the Associated Press this last week. The Pack was narrowly defeated by then No. 1 Duke, 52-49 on Sunday, Jan. 30. NC State leads the ACC in turnover margin at +3.57 over its foes. The Pack is also leading the ACC in three-point field goal percentage, hitting 39.3 percent on 44-of-112 shooting. Junior Rachel Stockdale is aiding that impressive effort, as she has knocked down 22-of-51 attempts from the arc this season, good for a team-best 43.1 percent. The Pack's junior Tiffany Stansbury has posted double figures in each of the last five games and remains as the team's top scorer with an average of 11.5 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 7.0 rebounds per game. Junior Billie McDowell has provided the offensive punch in ACC contests with a team-best 15.4 ppg. Stansbury is averaging 10.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg in ACC contests and freshman Khadijah Whittington is contributing 10.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg off the bench.
The Virginia Cavaliers are holding strong with a 16-5 overall record and 5-2 slate in ACC play after earning a 77-62 upset of No. 24 Florida State in Tallahassee on Monday. Senior LaTonya Blue posted 24 points, capping an ACC Player of the Week nod this past week. Blue had recorded a double-double of 26 points, 12 rebounds in the 70-67 win at home over Virginia Tech. She became Virginia's 22nd 1,000 point scorer with her performance at FSU. UVa is riding a three-game winning streak this season entering Thursday's game at NC State. Earlier, UVa strung together eight-straight wins midway through its schedule, which included victories over Old Dominion, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech. A duo of seniors, Brandi Teamer and Blue are averaging double figures for the Cavs. Forward Blue leads the team with 17.6 ppg in ACC games after posting back-to-back 20+ point outings, while Teamer is dropping in a team-high 13.0 ppg overall. Senior Jocelyn Logan-Friend is hauling in a team-high 6.5 rpg, while adding 9.6 ppg as well.
Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan is 607-245 (.712) in 28 seasons at the helm of the Cavaliers and overall. This will be the 57th meeting between Yow and Ryan and Ryan leads 33-23. Yow is 25-33 against Virginia since her first meeting on Jan. 31, 1976. Both Yow and Ryan coached their 600th game as head coach of their respective schools this season.
Notes: Last win over Virginia was on Feb. 15, 2004, 72-67 in Charlottesville ... NC State has won just five of its last 11 games with the Cavaliers ... In 2004, NC State and Virginia split, with both teams winning on the road - UVa defeated NC State in Raleigh, 66-62 ... NC State and Virginia are meeting for the 60th time since Dec. 7, 1974 ... Virginia is the only ACC opponent with which NC State has a better record against as the visiting team, rather than as the host ... NC State is 13-14 at home and 11-6 on the road all-time.
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