North Carolina State University Athletics
2006 Women's Hoops Wrap-up
3/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 29, 2006
The Wolfpack capped off the nation's No. 2 ranked strength of schedule with a 19-12 record overall and a 7-7 record in Atlantic Coast Conference play, which was good for a fifth-place finish. This schedule featured 12 games against ranked opponents and two other games against teams that either appeared in the top 25 or finished there at season's end. The team's RPI was ranked in the top 12 all season and closed out at the No. 11 was fifth among the ACC teams. Additionally, the Wolfpack wrapped up its regular season winning four of its last five games and last two on the road, including the upset win over No. 17 Boston College on senior night in Chestnut Hill, Mass. NC State found itself ranked five weeks in the Associated Press poll. The Pack collected a home court record of 11-3 overall and went undefeated in non-conference play at home, 7-0. The non-conference winning streak stands at 17 games heading into the 2006-07 campaign. Overall, the Pack went 10-3 against out-of-conference opponents, with two of those losses coming against No. 6 Rutgers (Co-BIG EAST Champions) and No. 22 Utah (Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions). Along the way, NC State set new records for blocks in a game (14), three-pointers made in a game (15), fewest turnovers in a game (5) and bench points (54).
After a fifth place finish in the regular season ACC standings, NC State entered the conference tournament with a five-seed and advanced to the semifinals after picking up wins against Clemson and Florida State. The loss was to No. 1 ranked and current Final Four contender, North Carolina. Junior Marquetta Dickens posted back-to-back double figure scoring games in wins over Clemson and Florida State to help the Pack advance to the semis. She was then named to the All-Tournament second team and was named the Chick-Fil-A ACC Player of the Game in the win over FSU in the quarterfinals. The Pack's RPI and strength of schedule, along with its 19 win-slate and fifth place finish in the ACC, earned it a fifth-seed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. NC State was pitted against the Conference USA Tournament champions, Tulsa in Chicago, Ill. The Wolfpack fell 71-61 to the Golden Hurricane to close the door on NC State's 27th winning season.
On the player front, NC State made a few adjustments at the point guard spot after the graduation of Kendra Bell following the 2004-05 season. Senior Monica Pope and junior Ashley Key shared the floor general duties all season. Key posted a team-best 19 double figure scoring games and finished second on the team in scoring with an average of 10.9 ppg, although she led in ACC games only with 11.8 ppg. In addition, she led the team in assists, 124 total (4.00 apg), assist:turnover ratio (1.31), free throws made (85), free throw percentage (79.4 pct.) and minutes played (920, 29.7 mpg). The Atlanta native also posted 12 games with five or more assists and had six games with seven or more helpers and had three games with four or more steals. All told, Key was not the only Wolfpack player who posted a double figure scoring average. Pope had six games with five or more assists and had three double figure scoring games. Senior Tiffany Stansbury led the team in scoring at year's end with 11.5 ppg and was second in rebounding average, 6.6 rpg. Following Key in scoring was senior Billie McDowell, who posted 10.7 ppg and sophomore Khadijah Whittington was fourth with 10.0 ppg, while leading the team in rebounding with 8.0 rpg. Stansbury earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition and tied with Key for most double figure scoring games, 19. Additionally, Stansbury led the team in blocks (48) and field goal percentage (52.7 pct.). She had four double figure rebound games and three double-doubles, while adding two games with four or more steals. Her honors, in addition to the All-ACC nod, included Freeport Division Junkanoo Jam All-Tournament team and NC State Tournament All-Tournament. McDowell, along with senior Rachel Stockdale, were the co-captains of the squad. McDowell Led the team in three pointers made (56) and in three-point FG percentage (33.3 pct.), while recording 14 double figure scoring games. She was named to the NC State Tournament All-Tournament team. Whittington led the team in total rebounds (248) and average (8.0 rpg), steals (55) and double-doubles (5). She also had 16 double figure scoring games and led the team with seven double figure rebounding games. The Roanoke, Va. native was named to two All-Tournament teams, including the Freeport Division Junkanoo Jam and the Duel in the Desert.
Head coach Kay Yow completed her 31st season at the helm of the Wolfpack. Her record at NC State now stands at 693-320 (.685) and is 636-301 (.680) after 35 years as a Division I head coach.
The Wolfpack will celebrate all of its accomplishments when it holds its annual banquet on April 9.
--PACK--
