North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Florida State
No. 24 Wolfpack Falls 75-61 at Florida State
2/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - No. 24 NC State women's basketball (13-9, 3-6 ACC) fell, 75-61 at Florida State (14-7, 5-3 ACC) on Sunday, Feb. 5. The loss was the third consecutive for the Wolfpack, while it was the third-straight win for the Seminoles. NC State's Ashley Key led the Pack with 15 points, while Florida State's Holly Johnson led all scorers with 21 points. The Seminoles hit 12-of-14 free throws down the stretch to aid in the effort.
Neither team lit up at the start of the first half. Within the first four minutes the teams were a combined 3-for-14 from the floor. The Wolfpack hit just one of its first seven shots before junior Marquetta Dickens knocked down a three-pointer at the 16-minute mark. The Pack then hit four of its next six shots to get ahead 15-12 with just under 12 to play. Dickens had six of those points, stemming from her three-pointer and a three-point play. Florida State reserve forward Britany Miller came in and immediately posted up for two quick buckets. NC State remained on top for the following four minutes until the Seminoles went on a 10-2 run to regain the lead, 23-21 with just over seven minutes left. FSU's season leading scorer, Alicia Gladden and Shante Williams combined for seven of those points. The `Noles defense then held NC State without a field goal for more than four minutes until Dickens again broke the spell and hit a layup. The Pack had just three made FGs in the final four minutes of the half, one of which was a three-pointer from junior point guard Ashley Key as the buzzer sounded. Due to the Wolfpack's barren scoring, Florida State was able to capitalize and increase its grip on the lead. Florida's State's lead grew to as many as 11 points before the end of the period, but led by eight at the break, 38-30. NC State's post trio of Khadijah Whittington and Sasha Reaves, both of whom started, along with Tiffany Stansbury, combined for just three field goals in the half. Dickens led the Pack with 10 points, while Gladden led all scorers with 12.
The second half started out much like the first, except NC State was the team not scoring. The Wolfpack took two minutes to record its first field goal, a three-pointer from the top by Billie McDowell. Despite the Pack's offensive woes carrying over from late in the first half, NC State battled back. The Wolfpack used a 16-4 run over an eight-minute span to finally overcoming the deficit completely. Junior Gillian Goring hit back-to-back layups during the stretch and NC State took over at 51-50 with just under eight minutes to play. Florida State answered right back with a 10-0 run of its own and once again took the lead, 60-51. A layup and a left baseline three-pointer from Key right after the final media timeout brought the Wolfpack within three, 62-59. The Seminoles hit 12-of-14 free throws down the stretch to take the win.
The Wolfpack will play two home games next week, beginning with Wake Forest on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., followed by Georgia Tech on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m.
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