North Carolina State University Athletics
Whittington's Career Night Lifts Pack Over App. State
11/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BY DAVID PERCIVAL
RALEIGH, N.C. - No. 24 NC State women’s basketball climbed over Appalachian State, 82-69, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, behind a career-high 26 point performance from Khadijah Whittington. 19 of Whittington’s 26 points came in the second half, and her 13 rebounds resulted in the 21st double-double of her illustrious career.
She also tied a career high with six steals for the second straight game in 33 minutes of work. Her 21 double-doubles mark the seventh-most in school history.
“I thought it was a very challenging game for us and our players really responded to it,” said head coach Kay Yow. “This team was really fired up to play us.”
The Pack was also led by Nikitta Gartrell who posted a career-high evening of her own with 15 points. Shayla Fields recorded 17 points, and Lucy Ellison pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds.
Robin Colbert led the Mountaineers with 17 points, while Whitney Tossie added 12.
State jumped out to an early 17-10 lead behind two 3-pointers from Megan Zullo in the first six minutes of action. The two teams combined for 20 points in the first five minutes of the high-paced affair. Both squads went back and forth during the first half, and while the Pack was unable to grab a lead greater than seven, the red and white still carried a 38-35 advantage at the half.
In the second half it was the Whittington and Gartrell show as they combined for 29 of the Wolfpack’s 44 points. The two teams traded baskets for most of the half until the stingy defense and several scoring runs allowed the Wolfpack to lengthen its lead towards the end of the game.
NC State finally jumped out to a double-digit lead with 4:13 left to play on a fast-break layup by Gartrell. The Mountaineers hung around because of their success from behind the 3-point line. ASU shot 86 percent from behind the arc in the first half and made a total of nine 3-point baskets throughout the affair.
In addition, NC State forced 30 turnovers resulting in 33 points, while the Pack, unlike Appalachian, did most of its work in the paint with 50 points coming from that area of the court.
“We have seen a number of these in-state players,” said Yow. “Some came to our camps, and players like that are always fired up to come and play here.”
Coach Yow and her squad will return to the floor against St. John’s on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the TD Banknorth Classic in Burlington, Vt.
