NC State Fights Back to Beat GT in Annual PLAY4KAY Game
RALEIGH, NC – Reynolds Coliseum made sure the fifth-ranked NC State Wolfpack (21-3 overall, 12-1 ACC) honored their late coach Kay Yow, who passed away in 2009, due to cancer – the right way in their annual PLAY4KAY game.
They sure did, thanks to a 59-48 victory over the 11th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (18-5 overall, 9-3 ACC), along with raising $324,087.75 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and honoring cancer victims at Halftime. Among the honorees, was Associate Head Coach Tasha Butts, who was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer this past November.
NC State overcame a slow start, where they trailed 10-2 early in the game. However, as the game progressed, they turned it on, by holding the Yellow Jackets by single-digit scores in the second and third quarters. NC State was exemplary in overcoming the stout defense of Georgia Tech, who leads the ACC in defense, with 47.1 points allowed. On the other hand, NC State used their league-leading ACC scoring average (76.3 PPG) thanks to Sophomore Guard Diamond Johnson (Philadelphia, PA), leading the way with a dozen (12) points, while eight of those points occurred during the second quarter when she came off the bench.
On her observation of the Wolfpack coming back from deficits, Johnson observed, “I just think this team really likes a challenge.” She added, “ The third quarter is our quarter where we take off. The third quarter has always been good to us.”
The stout defense of North Carolina State started clicking in the third quarter when the Yellow Jackets went through a period of not having possession of the ball. Wolfpack Senior Center Elissa Cunane (Summerfield, NC) scored six consecutive baskets during that time frame. By the beginning of the fourth quarter, their lead inflated to 24 points.
On tonight’s victory, NC State Head Coach Wes Moore stated, “ Proud of the effort we gave to get back in it.” In addition to this, he pointed out, “The energy, the urgency we still have to get that for 40 minutes, we have to put that together.”
Thanks to NC State shooting 43% from the floor, where they scored 30% from three-point range, they made the Yellow Jackets’ stout defense turn into a disappointment. Georgia Tech came into the game, allowing only 32% from the field and 26% from the 3-point range.
The Pack looks to continue their success, when they travel to Chesnut Hill, MA, on Thursday to face the Boston College Golden Eagles, in a 6 PM showdown on ACC Network.
On the other hand, the 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face the Virginia Tech Hokies, in an 8 PM showdown, which will be aired on the Bally and Comcast Regional Sports Networks throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.