N.C. State guard Kai Crutchfield
Sports

N.C. State Women’s Basketball Balances Superstitions with Controlling the Controllables

Landon Bost

RALEIGH, N.C. – The number 12 appeared a ton on yesterday’s stat sheet from the N.C. State Wolfpack Women’s Basketball first round NCAA Tournament game against the Maine University Black Bears.

The Wolfpack (27-5) grabbed 12 rebounds in the first quarter; went on 12-2 runs to end the first quarter and second quarter; scored 12 points in the third and fourth quarter; Wolfpack guards Kai Crutchfield and Kiara Leslie’s 12 combined points in the second quarter tied the 12 points the Black Bears scored in the second; Maine’s leading scorer that day, Parise Rossignol, wore the No. 12 jersey; and N.C. State won by 12: 63-51.

“I’m very superstitious and I didn’t know that,” Wolfpack junior guard Aislinn Konig said. “So, you probably just stressed me out a little bit.

Konig, who started all 32 games this year, shared her pregame superstitions.

N.C. State guards Kai Crutchfield and Aislinn Konig (from left to right)
N.C. State guards Kai Crutchfield and Aislinn Konig (from left to right)

“I always put my left sock on before my right sock and then my left shoe before my right shoe; and it’s kind of weird.” Konig said. “But other than that, there’s not any of them, because when you get into tournaments like this, your routine gets thrown off a lot because you’re forced to travel. You don’t have as much time on the court before games. So, I like to just stick to the stuff I know I can control.”

One aspect of the game that the Wolfpack must control to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats (25-7) tomorrow in Reynolds Coliseum at 7 p.m. is tempo. Due to their lack of depth, NC State pushes the tempo strategically and would rather play in the half-court.

Kentucky likes to play fast on offense, and an aggressive, in your face full-court press on defense. They pride themselves on their stamina. Nine Wildcats average more than 13.2 MPG; and the Wolfpack have nine active players period.

“Honestly, just continue you what we’re doing,” said Crutchfield when asked how they wear down the Wildcats. “We’ve been playing good. How we’ve been executing on offense and defense; and of course, you play different teams different ways … There’s not anything that really stands out. Just for us to focus on what we’re doing and not worry about what they’re doing or how they’re doing.”