Sunday, December 31
Raleigh
2:30PM
NC State
47
vs
55
#3/4 Louisville
NC State’s Rally Falls Short against #3 Louisville
12/31/2017 5:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wolfpack digs early hole but fights to the end in loss to unbeaten Cardinals
December 31, 2017
RALEIGH – Despite outscoring the No. 3-ranked Louisville Cardinals 46-29 over the final 25 minutes of the game, the NC State women's basketball team (12-3, 1-1 ACC) could not overcome a significant early deficit and endured its first loss at home on Sunday afternoon, falling by a final score of 55-47.
In a very unusual beginning to the game, the Wolfpack was held without a field goal through the first 15 minutes and 11 seconds. NC State missed its first 25 field goal attempts and looked up at a 26-1 deficit on the scoreboard before Arizona State transfer Armani Hawkins hit a three-pointer from the corner with 4:49 remaining in the second quarter. The Wolfpack would end the first half on an 11-2 run and trailed the Cardinals 28-12 heading into the halftime break.
The Wolfpack would outscore the Cardinals in both the third (18-13) and fourth (17-14) quarters. Buoyed by a wave of momentum and helped along by the sizable crowd inside Reynolds Coliseum, NC State went on an 8-0 run and pulled within four points (47-43) with just 3:16 to play in the game when Kaila Ealey scored down low on an assist from Kiara Leslie. Louisville (16-0, 2-0 ACC) extended its lead back out to eight shortly thereafter, and didn't let the Pack any closer than within six points down the stretch.
Leslie led all players with 18 points. She was joined in double figures by 11 points from guard Kaila Ealey. Chelsea Nelson led the Wolfpack with 10 total rebounds. Senior Akela Maize chipped in four blocks on the defensive end.
Myisha Hines-Allen and Asia Durr each scored 17 points for Louisville. Hines-Allen scored her 17 points on efficient 8-15 shooting from the field and added 12 rebounds for a double-double.
"Rough start, obviously," NC State head coach Wes Moore said in his postgame press conference. "I don't know if we were maybe a little intimidated, which I don't completely understand. Last year, we split with them, and the last three games have had a margin of five points total. I felt like we could compete with them. You've got to give them (Louisville) credit. They came out and hit shots. They did a nice job defensively of playing personnel and matchups, and we obviously struggled to hit some shots. Unfortunately, sometimes that can be contagious. A couple of people miss and everybody starts thinking about it too much."
"I am proud of the effort after digging such a big hole for them to come back. I think we cut it to four and had the ball, so we definitely had an opportunity at the end. I'm not into moral victories, but I'm proud of our team. They showed a lot of character. We just need to learn from it and get ready for the next one."
NC State returns to action at home on Thursday, Jan. 4 when Virginia comes to town. Tip-off between the Wolfpack and Cavaliers is set for 7 p.m. from Reynolds Coliseum with live video coverage provided by ACC Network Extra.
#GoPack | @PackWomensBball
RALEIGH – Despite outscoring the No. 3-ranked Louisville Cardinals 46-29 over the final 25 minutes of the game, the NC State women's basketball team (12-3, 1-1 ACC) could not overcome a significant early deficit and endured its first loss at home on Sunday afternoon, falling by a final score of 55-47.
In a very unusual beginning to the game, the Wolfpack was held without a field goal through the first 15 minutes and 11 seconds. NC State missed its first 25 field goal attempts and looked up at a 26-1 deficit on the scoreboard before Arizona State transfer Armani Hawkins hit a three-pointer from the corner with 4:49 remaining in the second quarter. The Wolfpack would end the first half on an 11-2 run and trailed the Cardinals 28-12 heading into the halftime break.
The Wolfpack would outscore the Cardinals in both the third (18-13) and fourth (17-14) quarters. Buoyed by a wave of momentum and helped along by the sizable crowd inside Reynolds Coliseum, NC State went on an 8-0 run and pulled within four points (47-43) with just 3:16 to play in the game when Kaila Ealey scored down low on an assist from Kiara Leslie. Louisville (16-0, 2-0 ACC) extended its lead back out to eight shortly thereafter, and didn't let the Pack any closer than within six points down the stretch.
Leslie led all players with 18 points. She was joined in double figures by 11 points from guard Kaila Ealey. Chelsea Nelson led the Wolfpack with 10 total rebounds. Senior Akela Maize chipped in four blocks on the defensive end.
Myisha Hines-Allen and Asia Durr each scored 17 points for Louisville. Hines-Allen scored her 17 points on efficient 8-15 shooting from the field and added 12 rebounds for a double-double.
"Rough start, obviously," NC State head coach Wes Moore said in his postgame press conference. "I don't know if we were maybe a little intimidated, which I don't completely understand. Last year, we split with them, and the last three games have had a margin of five points total. I felt like we could compete with them. You've got to give them (Louisville) credit. They came out and hit shots. They did a nice job defensively of playing personnel and matchups, and we obviously struggled to hit some shots. Unfortunately, sometimes that can be contagious. A couple of people miss and everybody starts thinking about it too much."
"I am proud of the effort after digging such a big hole for them to come back. I think we cut it to four and had the ball, so we definitely had an opportunity at the end. I'm not into moral victories, but I'm proud of our team. They showed a lot of character. We just need to learn from it and get ready for the next one."
NC State returns to action at home on Thursday, Jan. 4 when Virginia comes to town. Tip-off between the Wolfpack and Cavaliers is set for 7 p.m. from Reynolds Coliseum with live video coverage provided by ACC Network Extra.
#GoPack | @PackWomensBball
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