North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Falls 66-50 at Wake Forest
2/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest came out on top 66-50 over NC State in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum.
In a rivalry that has been lopsided in favor of the Wolfpack to a tune of 59 wins in 68 all-time meetings heading into today’s contest, this constituted as one of the most meaningful games in recent history, if not ever.
The night turned out to be a rough one for the Wolfpack offense by shooting 27.6 percent from the field. Nikitta Gartrell led NC State (16-12, 6-7 ACC) with 14 points, while Bonae Holston added 11.
A three-point play by Mykala Walker left the Pack in a 44-36 hole with 7:17 left in the second.
Amber White found Brittany Strachan open under the basket to cut the lead to 45-44, but the Pack could never make that final leap to take a lead down the stretch.
Courteney Morris drilled a decisive three-pointer with 3:47 to go that put Wake up 50-44 and the momentum built into a final 16 point victory.
“I’m frustrated with tonight’s outcome,” said head coach Kellie Harper. “Credit Wake with a good game plan. We have to bounce back for our final game on Sunday.”
The game was tied 29-all for the fifth and final time early in the second half. The Pack had the ball with a chance to take its first lead since the 14:44 mark of the opening half, but Sharnise Beal was whistled for an offensive foul.
Wake went down and got two free throws from Brittany Waters (15 points) and the Demon Deacons held the lead the rest of the game.
Both teams struggled from the field in the opening minutes of the game. Midway through the first half it was just 10-10.
Wake ran off nine straight points to jump out to a 17-10 lead with 7:10 left in first half.
Holston snapped a 4:18 scoring drought with a jumper and Gartrell added another to cut the Wolfpack deficit to just five, 19-14.
But the Deacs answered with next five, including a three from Camille Collier and the Wake lead was up to 10 points, 24-14 with just over four minutes until halftime.
The Pack defense clamped down the rest of the half, holding Wake scoreless after the Collier three-ball. During that time NC State inched back into the game with two buckets from Holston and two from the free throw line from Gartrell.
A horrid offensive performance saw the Pack only have three players find the scoring column in the opening stanza with Holston leading the way with eight and Gartrell with seven. Brittany Strachan added five off the bench.
With all that being said Wake led just 24-20 at intermission.
NC State completes the regular season on Sunday at home against Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. The Wolfpack will honor its four seniors, Sharnise Beal, Lucy Ellison, Gartrell and Inga Muciniece before tip-off.
In a rivalry that has been lopsided in favor of the Wolfpack to a tune of 59 wins in 68 all-time meetings heading into today’s contest, this constituted as one of the most meaningful games in recent history, if not ever.
The night turned out to be a rough one for the Wolfpack offense by shooting 27.6 percent from the field. Nikitta Gartrell led NC State (16-12, 6-7 ACC) with 14 points, while Bonae Holston added 11.
A three-point play by Mykala Walker left the Pack in a 44-36 hole with 7:17 left in the second.
Amber White found Brittany Strachan open under the basket to cut the lead to 45-44, but the Pack could never make that final leap to take a lead down the stretch.
Courteney Morris drilled a decisive three-pointer with 3:47 to go that put Wake up 50-44 and the momentum built into a final 16 point victory.
“I’m frustrated with tonight’s outcome,” said head coach Kellie Harper. “Credit Wake with a good game plan. We have to bounce back for our final game on Sunday.”
The game was tied 29-all for the fifth and final time early in the second half. The Pack had the ball with a chance to take its first lead since the 14:44 mark of the opening half, but Sharnise Beal was whistled for an offensive foul.
Wake went down and got two free throws from Brittany Waters (15 points) and the Demon Deacons held the lead the rest of the game.
Both teams struggled from the field in the opening minutes of the game. Midway through the first half it was just 10-10.
Wake ran off nine straight points to jump out to a 17-10 lead with 7:10 left in first half.
Holston snapped a 4:18 scoring drought with a jumper and Gartrell added another to cut the Wolfpack deficit to just five, 19-14.
But the Deacs answered with next five, including a three from Camille Collier and the Wake lead was up to 10 points, 24-14 with just over four minutes until halftime.
The Pack defense clamped down the rest of the half, holding Wake scoreless after the Collier three-ball. During that time NC State inched back into the game with two buckets from Holston and two from the free throw line from Gartrell.
A horrid offensive performance saw the Pack only have three players find the scoring column in the opening stanza with Holston leading the way with eight and Gartrell with seven. Brittany Strachan added five off the bench.
With all that being said Wake led just 24-20 at intermission.
NC State completes the regular season on Sunday at home against Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. The Wolfpack will honor its four seniors, Sharnise Beal, Lucy Ellison, Gartrell and Inga Muciniece before tip-off.
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