North Carolina State University Athletics
No. 25 Women's Hoops Readies for Big Weekend
1/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2006
#25 NC STATE (10-4, 1-1) VS. VIRGINIA (11-2, 0-1)
Tip-off: 7 p.m., Jan. 13, 2006, Charlottesville, Va.
All-Time Versus Wake Forest (H/A/N): 27-33 (14-14/11-6/2-3)
Streaks: 2 wins overall
Last Meeting Result: ST 62, VA 56 in Raleigh, ST 72, VA 67 in Charlottesville
Notable: Televised on FOX Sports South ... Pack is just 1-5 in last six meetings at UVa, has won last two overall in the series and won last year ... UVa is the only ACC team with a winning all-time record against the Wolfpack ... Second-straight year the Pack has opened the ACC season with a win, followed by a road loss.
Television: Regional Sports Network (In Raleigh on FOX Sports South), 7 p.m. with Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM with Patrick Kinas and Robin Pate
NC State Head Coach Kay Yow
All-Time Record vs: 26-33
Vs. Coach: Ryan leads 33-25
31st Season at ST: 627-293
35th Overall: 684-312
UVa Head Coach Debbie Ryan
All-Time Record vs. State: 33-25
Vs. Yow: 33-25
29th season: 623-253
29th Season Career Record: Same
About NC State (10-4, 1-1 ACC)
The No. 25 Wolfpack tips-off on Friday against a strong Virginia team that has won eight of its last nine games and has just two losses on the year. A meeting with undefeated No. 4 North Carolina on Sunday makes for a quick turnaround. Some home court advantage will be good for NC State after spending the last two games on the road (at WFU, at UVa). The Pack is 24-7 all-time against the Tar Heels in Raleigh and will meet them for the 79th time, the most meetings between ACC teams than any other partnership. The Pack then returns to the road for a game at No. 2 Duke, which is also undefeated. NC State has not won at Carmichael since Feb. 2, 1996, that accounts for eight consecutive losses. The Wolfpack has however picked up two consecutive wins over Virginia heading into their 18th meeting in Charlottesville. NC State re-entered the AP Top 25 after a three-week absence. The Pack had won 8 of 9 games prior to the Wake Forest loss, which included two top 25 victories over then No. 19 Vanderbilt and No. 25 Virginia Tech.
After ending a four-game winning streak with a loss at Wake Forest, NC State hopes to bring its away record back to even par and gain some momentum before it returns home to host No. 4 North Carolina. A win at Virginia would make it two-straight in Charlottesville and three-straight overall and it would also keep the Cavaliers winless in conference games to this point. The loss at Wake Forest did not deter the Associated Press from putting them back in the top 25, after a four-game winning streak and having won eight of the last nine prior to the loss on the road. But with the looming match-ups against three teams that have a combined record of 40-2 on the year, NC State will not have an easy week. NC State hosts No. 4 North Carolina (15-0) and travels to No. 2 Duke (14-0) on Thursday following the Sunday meeting with the Tar Heels. The Wolfpack is sitting strong among the nation's top teams, not only in the top 25 rankings, but also according to RPI and strength of schedule. NC State owns a ninth place position in RPI and is fourth in nation for SOS.
About Virginia (11-2, 0-1 ACC)
The Cavaliers opened their ACC slate with a 60-46 loss at Florida State on Jan. 8. The defeat marked the end of a eight-game winning streak for Virginia, but the Cavaliers will open their home ACC slate with a visit from the Wolfpack and has the honor of being the only ACC team to own a winning record over NC State. The Pack does hold the edge in Charlottesville at 11-6 and won the last game played there two years ago on Feb. 2, 2004. Heading into the game, UVa is second in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 50.2 ppg. Virginia played just one ranked team prior to the ACC portion of the season and it was against then No. 12 Minnesota on Nov. 26. The Cavs own a strength of schedule of 81, which ranks 10th among the 12 ACC teams. Only Georgia Tech and Clemson have weaker schedules. With that being said, Virginia also leads the ACC with just 15.0 turnovers a game, which is also ranked 37th among 324 NCAA D-I schools. Individually, sophomore Sharnee Zoll is averaging 6.2 assists per game. She spent the summer with the USA National team and also leads the team in steals per game with 2.9. Teammate junior center Siedah Williams is among three Cavalier players averaging double figures in scoring. She has posted just over 12 ppg. Senior forward Tiffany Sardin is second in scoring with 10.4 ppg, while freshman forward Lyndra Littles is coming off the bench to score 10.3 ppg and leads the team in rebounds with 8.2 rpg.
