Sports

N.C. State Women’s Basketball Puts Kentucky in a “Headwind”

Landon Bost

RALEIGH, N.C. –  The North Carolina State Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team received valuable production from their entire lineup in tonight’s second round NCAA Tournament game against the Kentucky Wildcats. 

“I just felt like all night,” Wildcats head coach Matthew Mitchell said, “with the outstanding play of N.C. State, we were just into a headwind all night and could never get it turned.” 

The Wolfpack had four players score in double-digits and needed two more points from junior guard Aislinn Konig to have all five starters score in double-figures for the first time this season. 

Wolfpack guard Kiara Leslie shoots jump shot over Kentucky guard Jaida Roper
Wolfpack guard Kiara Leslie shoots jump shot over Kentucky guard Jaida Roper

Impact Players 

Kiara Leslie, Wolfpack graduate guard: Leslie dominated the game from start to finish. She finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, four offensive, in her last performance in Reynolds Coliseum. 

Kai Crutchfield, sophomore guard: Crutchfield shot 3-4 from the 3-point line for 11 points and added six assists to tie the game-high alongside of her freshman center Elissa Cunane. 

Rhyne Howard, Wildcats freshman guard: Howard shot 6-13, 2-6 3FG, for 15 points in the first half. However, her offensive production vanished in the second half and she shot 2-11, from the floor, 1-3 3FG, in the second to finish with 21 points. She also had a team-high seven rebounds. 

Game Commentary 

  • The Wildcats double-teamed Cunane. One the first double-team she lost her footing and missed a desperation layup, but on the next double-team she found Crutchfield for a wide open 3-pointer. 
  • Leslie and fellow senior forward DD Rogers lit up the scoreboard to the first media timeout. The had 9 points combined with 4:54 left in the first quarter. 
  • Wildcats head coach Matthew Mitchell changed to a full-court 1-2-2 press out of the first media timeout after starting the game in a full-court man-to-man. 
  • The Wildcats tried to get the ball in Howard’s hands early and often.

    Wolfpack center Elissa Cunane shooting a jump shot
    Wolfpack center Elissa Cunane shooting a jump shot
  • N.C. State spread the scoring wealth in the first. All of their starters had four or more points, and they gave Mitchell a headache as he switched his team’s defensive focus back-and-forth from guards to bigs.
  • Kentucky got off to a quick start in the second after trailing 25-17 at the end of the quarter. 
  • Speed defined the second quarter. N.C. State tried to match Kentucky’s fast-paced style and it didn’t work well. They went into halftime with a 35-30 lead, but they shot 3-9, 33.3 percent, from the floor and had a 1-3 assist-to-turnover ratio. 
  • The Wildcats went on a 6-0 run heading into the official timeout with 4:44 left in the third quarter that shrunk the deficit to 44-41. 
  • Kentucky sophomore guard Jaida Roper drilled a 3 buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the quarter to make the score 53-48. 
  • The Wolfpack were in the double-bonus with 7:06 left in the fourth quarter.
  • Kentucky had too many mental errors in the fourth to mount a comeback. They had three turnovers in the fourth after only having two the first three quarters.
  • N.C. State shot 10-21 from the 3-point line, 47.6%, after shooting 34.2 percent from the 3-point line, for 7.4 made 3-pointers per game, heading into today.

Quick Hits 

  • Leslie shot 3-6, 2-2 3FG, from the floor for eight points. And she grabbed five rebounds: three which were offensive. 
  • The Wildcats’ double team wore down Cunane in the second. She shot 1-3 from the floor for 2 points and had 2 turnovers. 
  • Leslie and Cunane secured double-doubles by the end of the third quarter. 
  • Cunane played the entire game and finished with a game-high 15 rebounds and 13 points.

Firsthand Perspective 

“I think you have to pay attention to time and score,” Leslie said. “I know early on, we were playing a little bit more fast-paced, but one we built our lead at the end of the game. We wanted to run the clock down a little bit and utilize our plays and run through that. So that’s how we separated the two halves.” 

“We were concerned,” Mitchell said, “Cunane is so much bigger than us. If she put it on the floor, we were trying to go get her if we could. You just have to give the Wolfpack so much credit for making those three’s tonight. They were outstanding from the 3-point line, and it was sort of a ‘pick your poising’ type night.”

Wolfpack head coach hugs senior DD Rogers in her final game in Reynolds Coliseum.
Wolfpack head coach hugs senior DD Rogers in her final game in Reynolds Coliseum.

“We got the game to a good spot pace wise,” Mitchell said. “We just never made the shots to get over the hump.”

“Kai Crutchfield,” said Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore, “look at her stat line. Three-out-of-four from three. She hit both of her free throws. I hope she’s just oozing with confidence.” 

“How can you not be impressed with the Wolfpack tonight,” Mitchell said.

What’s Next 

N.C. State plays the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in the Sweet Sixteen Saturday in Greensboro.