NC State
10-2,1-0ACC
#17/14 Georgia
9-1,0-0SEC
#2 Wolfpack Falls 82-80 in Overtime Battle with #17 Georgia
12/16/2021 9:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – The second-ranked NC State women's basketball team (10-2) overcame a 12-point halftime deficit but ultimately came up just short, 82-80, to 17th-ranked Georgia (9-1) on Thursday night.
Four members of the Pack scored in double figures in what was the Pack's fourth top-25 matchup in its first 12 games of the year. Elissa Cunane led the way with 20 points, scoring 18 in the second half and shooting 8-of-14 on the night. Diamond Johnson followed behind her with 17, and Raina Perez (13) and Kai Crutchfield (10) added to NC State's tally.
Perez and Johnson each hit three three pointers on the night to lead the Pack in that category. Kayla Jones nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds, and she also led the team in assists with four.
After staring up at its biggest halftime deficit of the season (40-28), NC State outscored Georgia 24-11 in the third quarter to take a one-point lead (52-51) into the fourth period. The fourth quarter featured six lead changes and a pair of ties. With the Pack up one (73-72), Crutchfield hauled in a clutch offensive rebound and was immediately fouled. She hit both free throws to put her team's lead at three (75-72), but Sarah Ashlee Baker knocked down a three with .04 seconds remaining after Georgia advanced the ball to its side of the court out of a timeout.
The teams traded buckets in overtime, and the Pack got the ball back down one (81-80) with 22 seconds remaining but came up empty in its final possession. Georgia closed out the game with a free throw, and NC State was unable to get a good look in the final split seconds of the game.
Georgia came into the game allowing just 49.5 points per game, and the Wolfpack scored 75 after regulation and 80 total on the night.
NC State (48.5 percent) out-shot Georgia (45.6 percent), but the Bulldogs owned the narrow edge in three pointers (8-7) and hit 12 of their 18 free throws. The Pack outscored Georgia 42-24 in the paint and forced the Bulldogs into 20 turnovers. After turning the ball over 13 times in the first half, NC State only mishandled the ball three times in the second half. In total, the game featured 12 lead changes and 11 ties.
NC State wraps up its three-game home stretch and plays its final game before the holiday break on Sunday, Dec. 19 when it hosts its first ACC home contest of the year against Virginia. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. on the ACC Network.
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