NC State Protects The “Small Gym” in Blowout Over UNC

RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State opened the game on a 12-2 run and never looked back as the no. 2-ranked Wolfpack dominated the 15th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels 72-45 on Thursday night in Reynolds Coliseum…or the “small gym” as referred to by UNC head coach Courtney Banghart. 

NC State forward Elissa Cunane, aka The “Big Smile” torched the Heels with a huge double-double, scoring 19 points on just eight shots (3-4 3FG), and her 6’5 frame helped her snag 13 boards. 

NC State star sixth-man Diamond Johnson had a rough start, picking up two early fouls and she eventually finished the night with only seven points (1-6 3FG). NC State came into this game leading the ACC in three-point percentage (36.7%), and this game was no different, shooting 11 for 32 from the three-point-land. 

Cunane is a projected top-five pick for next year’s WNBA draft, that is if she decides to give up her last year of eligibility. This season Cunane has shown why she’s a top WNBA prospect, averaging 13.3 PTS and 7.3 REB (52.3 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 80.7 FT%).

The Tar Heels were one of the best shooting teams in the country coming into this game (45.3 FG%), but NC State’s defense was able to hold UNC to 23.1% from the floor and hand the Tar Heels their first loss of the season (13-1). 

Deja Kelly was the one bright spot for the Tar Heels tonight, finishing the game with 21 PTS (8-24 FG). 

UNC will look for Alyssa Ustby and Deja Kelly to lead them to a bounce-back game against Virginia Tech on Sunday, while NC State (13-2) will try and carry the momentum from this big rivalry victory into their road game against Notre Dame.