NC State
10-5 (1-1)
Virginia Tech
9-7 (0-3)
Wolfpack Holds off Hokies in ACC Home Opener, 73-59
1/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH - Led by career-high scoring performances from Miah Spencer and Dominique Wilson, the NC State women's basketball team held off Virginia Tech, 73-59, in its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener Thursday evening inside Reynolds Coliseum.
The Wolfpack improves to 10-5 (1-1 ACC) on the season while the Hokies move to 9-7 (0-3 ACC). NC State is a perfect 16-0 all-time against Virginia Tech and 7-0 inside the friendly confines of Reynolds Coliseum.
Wilson led the Pack to its first ACC victory of the season with a game and career-high 24 points (8-12 FG). Spencer also notched a career best, scoring 21 (7-14 FG). Each student athlete distributed four assists in the win.
"It feels great," Wilson said during the postgame press conference. "Winning is always great. We worked hard in practice (this week); we worked hard on our mistakes, and we knew that we were going to come out here and have a great game."
As a team, NC State shot 23-52 (.442) from the field and 19-25 (.760) from the free throw line. The Hokies shot 20-54 (.370) from the field and 11-15 (.733) from the charity stripe.
The Wolfpack was without the services of regular starter Krystal Barrett and freshman McDonald's High School All-American honorable mention Chloe Jackson, both of whom are out with injuries.
Virginia Tech was hot early, three separate times taking eight-point advantages in the first half. Trailing 18-10 with 12:28 to play in the frame, the Wolfpack went on a 22-7 tear to take a 32-25 lead into the halftime break.
Halftime! State drains the clock and finishes a cool layup to go into halftime with a 7 point lead. 32-25 Wolfpack
— Technician Sports (@TechSports) January 9, 2015
"The key (during the run) was getting to their shooters and making sure we boxed out to not allow second-chance points," Spencer said. "On offense, we have fast guards, so once we get into transition that is when our offense starts to get going."
On two occasions in the second half, the Hokies were able to pull within six points (32-26 and 40-34), but the Wolfpack would allow them no closer. State's largest lead of the contest was a 16-point advantage (73-57), shortly after which the game arrived at its final score.
NC State returns to action on Saturday at home against Clemson. The Wolfpack and Tigers will tip off at 2 p.m. inside Reynolds Coliseum on NC State's Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day.
Good win tonight @PackWomensBball . See you Saturday
-- Richie Boyd (@sofiesdad08) January 9, 2015
#GoPack
