North Carolina State University Athletics
White Sinks Wake Forest With Buzzer Beater
1/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. – Amber White admitted she didn’t even see the basket when she lofted a buzzer-beating jumper to lift NC State to a stunning 51-49 victory over Wake Forest Friday evening at Reynolds Coliseum.
A game that was marred by poor offensive execution from both sides, NC State (12-7, 2-2 ACC) came out of a timeout and tied the game 49-all when Nikitta Gartrell (10 points) drained another back-breaking three-pointer against Wake with 15 seconds left.
After a timeout taken by the Demon Deacons, Brooke Thomas rushed a jumper that was hauled in by Gartrell and that led to White driving towards the baseline and floated a “prayer” that was answered as time expired.
“I’m happy to be on this side,” said coach Kellie Harper. “I know what Wake Forest feels like. We learned at FSU it’s a 40-minute game. Every basket, every possession counts.”
The victory puts the Wolfpack right in the thick of the ACC race a third of the way though the league with a five-way tie at 2-2.
White understood how big that shot was for her team after letting what seemed to be a victory last Sunday at No. 16 Florida State slipped through the Pack’s fingers.
“The (ACC) title is up for grabs,” explained White. “Depending on the outcome of the North Carolina-Clemson game we could be tiedd for third and in the race for the top.”
Wake ran off six straight points midway through the second half to take a 44-38 lead with 8:12 to go, but the Wolfpack scored six of its own to knot things at 44-44.
Secily Ray (20 points) put the Deacs up 49-46 with a layup at the 1:11 mark, but Gartrell answered with the three for the tie.
It was the second time in the last three meetings that Gartrell did in the Deacs. Last season in Winston-Salem, she sent the game into overtime with a three-pointer and came back with another 6.3 seconds left in the extra session for a miraculous 65-63 victory in mid-February.
NC State took its first lead of the game 11-10 after Gartrell stepped up and buried a three from the top of the key.
The Pack later broke a 13-all tie with six straight points to leap out to a 19-13 advantage with under six minutes to play.
However, the Deacs rallied back to tie the game up 21-all in the late stages of the first half, but a pair of free throws by White sent the home team ahead 23-21 at the half.
Bonae Holston led NC State with 15 points, while Gartrell and White added 10 apiece.
NC State now prepares for local rival North Carolina on Monday at 7 p.m., from Kay Yow Court. The game will be televised on the RSN Network and shown locally on Fox Sports Carolinas.
A game that was marred by poor offensive execution from both sides, NC State (12-7, 2-2 ACC) came out of a timeout and tied the game 49-all when Nikitta Gartrell (10 points) drained another back-breaking three-pointer against Wake with 15 seconds left.
After a timeout taken by the Demon Deacons, Brooke Thomas rushed a jumper that was hauled in by Gartrell and that led to White driving towards the baseline and floated a “prayer” that was answered as time expired.
“I’m happy to be on this side,” said coach Kellie Harper. “I know what Wake Forest feels like. We learned at FSU it’s a 40-minute game. Every basket, every possession counts.”
The victory puts the Wolfpack right in the thick of the ACC race a third of the way though the league with a five-way tie at 2-2.
White understood how big that shot was for her team after letting what seemed to be a victory last Sunday at No. 16 Florida State slipped through the Pack’s fingers.
“The (ACC) title is up for grabs,” explained White. “Depending on the outcome of the North Carolina-Clemson game we could be tiedd for third and in the race for the top.”
Wake ran off six straight points midway through the second half to take a 44-38 lead with 8:12 to go, but the Wolfpack scored six of its own to knot things at 44-44.
Secily Ray (20 points) put the Deacs up 49-46 with a layup at the 1:11 mark, but Gartrell answered with the three for the tie.
It was the second time in the last three meetings that Gartrell did in the Deacs. Last season in Winston-Salem, she sent the game into overtime with a three-pointer and came back with another 6.3 seconds left in the extra session for a miraculous 65-63 victory in mid-February.
NC State took its first lead of the game 11-10 after Gartrell stepped up and buried a three from the top of the key.
The Pack later broke a 13-all tie with six straight points to leap out to a 19-13 advantage with under six minutes to play.
However, the Deacs rallied back to tie the game up 21-all in the late stages of the first half, but a pair of free throws by White sent the home team ahead 23-21 at the half.
Bonae Holston led NC State with 15 points, while Gartrell and White added 10 apiece.
NC State now prepares for local rival North Carolina on Monday at 7 p.m., from Kay Yow Court. The game will be televised on the RSN Network and shown locally on Fox Sports Carolinas.
Coach Moore Postgame Presser (Syracuse)
Sunday, February 22
WBB Players Postgame Presser (Syracuse)
Sunday, February 22
Brooks, Coach Moore Postgame at VT
Sunday, February 08
Coach Moore Postgame Presser (Florida State)
Thursday, February 05