North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Wake Forest
N.C. State Holds Off Wake Forest, 64-61
2/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Tiffany Stansbury scored 15 of her team-high 21 points in the second half, and No. 19 North Carolina State held off Wake Forest 64-61 on Thursday night without coach Kay Yow.
Yow did not make the trip because of the flu. The veteran of 30 seasons with the Wolfpack also missed practices Tuesday and Wednesday. Associate coach Stephanie Glance took Yow's place.
The Wolfpack (20-6, 9-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) has won 17 of 18 against Wake (14-12, 3-10).
Trailing 61-60, State made four free throws in the final 1:19 while holding the Demon Deacons scoreless. Guard Ashley Key made three of the free throws, including the last with 24.9 seconds remaining.
Wake's Cotelia Bond-Young missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game with 8 seconds remaining.
Marquetta Dickens added 10 points for the Wolfpack, who were coming off Sunday's overtime loss at No. 8 North Carolina. Tiffany McCollins collected nine points and 12 rebounds, helping State control the boards, 43-36.
N.C. State has won five of six to solidify third place in the ACC with the league tournament starting a week from Friday. The Wolfpack has won nine straight games at Wake and reached 20 victories during the regular season for the first time since 1999-2000.
The Deacons, assured of their first winning season in 14 years, were led by Liz Strunk's 24 points. She scored a school-record 40 points on Monday at Clemson, then came on strong against North Carolina State by getting all but two of her points in the second half.
Bond-Young and Erin Ferrell added 12 points each for the Deacons. Wake did not hold a lead until 37-34 early in the second half, then the lead changed hands 12 times in just over 7 minutes until Dickens scored five straight points for North Carolina State.
The Wolfpack led 30-27 at halftime by scoring the last five points.
