Kiara Leslie
Sports

Leslie Relies on Final Four Experience in Last Dance

Landon Bost

RALEIGH, N.C. – Graduate guard Kiara Leslie leads the NC State Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team into the NCAA Tournament tomorrow as the only player or coach with Final Four experience.

Wes Moore, the Wolfpack’s head coach and Naismith Coach of the Year Finalist, has never made it out of the Sweet Sixteen, and Wolfpack assistant coach Simon Harris made it to the Elite Eight in 2015 as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton.

The First Team All-ACC and All-ACC Defensive team member Leslie played on the Maryland Terrapins’ Final Four team her freshman year in 2015. She grabbed two rebounds and blocked one shot in four minutes of play in Maryland’s 81-58 loss to the UConn Huskies, the eventual champions, at Amalia Arena, in Tampa Bay; which is also this year’s Final Four site.

“Just take each game one a time,” said Leslie when asked about what she learned from her prior tournament experience. “Focus on one opponent and play like it’s your last game. We have nothing to lose. So, if you want to continue to advance, then you have to come out ready to play against anyone no matter what names are on their jerseys.”

Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore

Leslie and the Wolfpack are familiar with the first jersey they see tomorrow: the Maine University Black Bears. NC State defeated Maine 84-46 at Reynolds Coliseum on Dec. 15, 2018. This game, the Wolfpack had their second highest scoring quarter after making 12 field goals for 30 points.

Fanny Wadling, the Black Bears’ best rebounder at 9.0 RPG, missed the matchup due to injury. But since then, NC State caught the injury bug. The Wolfpack have lost Grace Hunter, Erika Cassell and Armani Hawkins. The three have accounted for 18.4 percent of the Wolfpack’s scoring and 16.2 percent of their rebounding this season.

NC State sophomore Kai Crutchfield and freshman Elissa Cunane stepped into starting roles after the Wolfpack’s injuries. Cunane made the All-ACC Freshman Team and First Team All-ACC Tournament. Cunane and Crutchfield combined for 37 points to lead the team in scoring in their last game against Louisville in the ACC Tournament on March 9.

“When Kai and Elissa got into the starting lineup, I know that they were a little nervous early on in the season,” said Leslie, “but I definitely think they’re definitely ready to tackle the NCAA Tournament now.”

The No. 3 seed Wolfpack (26-5) play the No. 14 seed Black Black Bears (25-7) in Reynolds Coliseum tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.