North Carolina State University Athletics
Badgers Muscle Pack Into 53-48 Loss
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. – Wisconsin’s physicality was too much for NC State in a 53-48 Badger win Thursday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Bonae Holston led NC State (5-3) with 13 points.
Wisconsin (7-1) used its size and brawn to out rebound the Pack 39-29 – the first time NC State didn’t hold a rebound advantage this season.
“They were just tall and big bodied. It was tough to get shots off,” Holston said.
After a poor first half that saw the Pack shoot less than 30-percent, the Wolfpack made eight of its first 10 second-half shots to finally capture the lead. A driving layup by Amber White put the home team up 39-34 with 12:38 to play.
But, Wisconsin's Taylor Wurtz (13 points) tied the game 39-all moments later. On the next trip she gave them the lead back with a spinning layup and the Pack would never recover.
NC State’s last basket came with 5:45 to play. That allowed the Badgers to build there lead back to a comfortable six-point margin with 2:10 to play.
“Wisconsin executed a very good game plan tonight,” said Pack coach Kellie Harper. “They forced us to play a half court game. We didn’t have any transition game, which is not in our favor right now.”
Neither team showed much offensive rhythm in the first half. Wisconsin led for the entire half and garnered an eight point-advantage midway through at 14-6
Holston was far and away the best scoring option for the Pack in the first half. The sophomore forward scored six straight to cut the Wisconsin lead down to 16-14 with 7:42 left in the first half.
The Badgers put together a 9-3 run for a 25-17 lead, but consecutive buckets by Tia Bell and Nikitta Gartrell in the final 34 seconds cut the Pack's deficit to just four, 25-21 at the break.
The Wolfpack hosted its first annual "Beach Night" and enjoyed a season-best crowd of 1,889.
NC State hosts TCU Sunday at 2 p.m.
Bonae Holston led NC State (5-3) with 13 points.
Wisconsin (7-1) used its size and brawn to out rebound the Pack 39-29 – the first time NC State didn’t hold a rebound advantage this season.
“They were just tall and big bodied. It was tough to get shots off,” Holston said.
After a poor first half that saw the Pack shoot less than 30-percent, the Wolfpack made eight of its first 10 second-half shots to finally capture the lead. A driving layup by Amber White put the home team up 39-34 with 12:38 to play.
But, Wisconsin's Taylor Wurtz (13 points) tied the game 39-all moments later. On the next trip she gave them the lead back with a spinning layup and the Pack would never recover.
NC State’s last basket came with 5:45 to play. That allowed the Badgers to build there lead back to a comfortable six-point margin with 2:10 to play.
“Wisconsin executed a very good game plan tonight,” said Pack coach Kellie Harper. “They forced us to play a half court game. We didn’t have any transition game, which is not in our favor right now.”
Neither team showed much offensive rhythm in the first half. Wisconsin led for the entire half and garnered an eight point-advantage midway through at 14-6
Holston was far and away the best scoring option for the Pack in the first half. The sophomore forward scored six straight to cut the Wisconsin lead down to 16-14 with 7:42 left in the first half.
The Badgers put together a 9-3 run for a 25-17 lead, but consecutive buckets by Tia Bell and Nikitta Gartrell in the final 34 seconds cut the Pack's deficit to just four, 25-21 at the break.
The Wolfpack hosted its first annual "Beach Night" and enjoyed a season-best crowd of 1,889.
NC State hosts TCU Sunday at 2 p.m.
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