NC State
8-1,0-0ACC
Elon
5-2,0-0CAA
#2 Pack Defeats Visiting Elon 78-46 for Eighth-Straight Win
12/5/2021 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – The second-ranked NC State women's basketball squad (8-1) extended its winning streak to eight games with a 78-46 victory over visiting Elon (5-2) on Sunday afternoon.
NC State held Elon to under 30 percent shooting in the first three quarters of the game on its way to limiting the Phoenix to a 27.8 percent (15-of-54) clip overall. The Wolfpack, meanwhile, shot 51 percent (26-of-51) as a team, putting together a mark of 50+ percent from the field for the fifth game this season.
Three Wolfpack players scored in double figures, and another two hit nine points on the day as 50 of NC State's 78 points were scored by players off the bench.
Jada Boyd's season-high 17 points marked the most by any player on the floor in what was her sixth career start and her first of the 2021-22 campaign. Boyd shot an efficient 5-of-8 (.625) from the floor and added a three pointer and six free throws to her tally.
Camille Hobby and Aziaha James joined her in double figures with 11 each, with James' tally marking the first 10+ point game in the rookie's early collegiate career. James hit three triples against the Phoenix and put together a 60 percent clip from distance.
Madison Hayes and Diamond Johnson added nine points apiece, and Hayes also played a key role in the Wolfpack's offensive production with four assists and zero turnovers. Despite not finding the scoring column, Raina Perez led the team with her six assists, and Elissa Cunane's defensive presence stood out with her team-leading 10 rebounds and season-high three blocked shots.
NC State set its defensive tone early on its way to holding Elon to 26.7 percent (8-of-30) in the first half. After three lead changes in a back-and-forth start to the first quarter, the Wolfpack settled in offensively and scored the last eight of the period to lead 16-9 after 10 minutes.
That started what ended up being a 16-0 run by the Wolfpack between the first and second quarters. During that span, NC State forced Elon into six turnovers and held it to 0-of-7 shooting. The Pack built up a double-figure lead that it held on to from the 8:58 mark of the second quarter until the final buzzer.
NC State led by 16 at the half (36-20) and ballooned its lead to a game-high 32 with the final bucket of the day, a Boyd three pointer with 50 seconds remaining in the game.
The Wolfpack steps into league play on Friday, Dec. 10 as it hits the road to take on Pitt in its ACC opener. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. from the Petersen Events Center, and the contest will be televised nationally on the ACC Network.
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