North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State crushes Alabama State, 74-33
12/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Led by 16 points and eight rebounds by Khadijah Whittington, the NC State women’s basketball team posted its most lopsided victory of the year with a 74-33 win over Alabama State in the consolation game of the State Farm Classic hosted by the University of Florida at the O’Connell Center.
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, NC State (11-3) took control early, led by double digits most of the game and earned its largest margin of victory since a 76-29 win over North Carolina A&T on December 18, 2004. The 33 points scored by the Lady Hornets was also the fewest given up by the Wolfpack since the 29 scored by the Aggies over two years ago.
Whittington shot 7-of-10 from the field and had three blocks and two steals, while Keisha Brown came up big off the bench. The senior from Charlotte, N.C., tossed in 14 points (5-6) with three steals and two blocks. Freshman Amber White also provided her best performance of the season to date. The Coatesville, Pa., product had nine points and three of the Pack’s season-high 18 steals.
L’Teisha Holloway had 15 points to lead Alabama State (3-8), which dropped its seventh game in a row, including a 99-39 loss to Florida yesterday.
After a sluggish start that saw the score tied 5-5 at the 13:21 mark, NC State closed the half by outscoring the Lady Hornets 34-15 the rest of the way to take a 39-20 lead into intermission.
The Wolfpack then came out and put together a 14-3 run over the first 6:34 of the second half and the lead had grown to 30 points, 53-23. Alabama State never got closer than 27 points the rest of the game.
NC State now must prepare for the defending national champion and consensus No. 1-rated Maryland Terrapins in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Wednesday, January 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm at Comcast Center in College Park, Md.
