NC State Wins 2nd Straight ACC Championship

GREENSBORO, NC – The NC State Wolfpack won their second straight ACC Championship Sunday afternoon as they took down the Louisville Cardinals 58-56. This victory puts the Wolfpack in the conversation for a #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The game started with both teams playing fast-paced up and down the court basketball with each team matching basket for basket as the score was tied at nine six minutes into the contest. With two of the best teams in the country facing off, this was what we expected.

The final four minutes of the quarter were back and forth  as the Cardinals led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter. Elissa Cunane led the Pack with six points and Kianna Smith led the Cardinals with seven points through the first ten minutes.

The second quarter began with NC State connecting on three of their first five shots. The Cardinals went scoreless for over two minutes, to allow the Pack to jump out to a 24-20 lead with 4:!3 remaining in the second quarter. The Cardinals responded with five straight points from Hailey Van Lith to take back the lead 25-24 with three minutes to go in the half. NC State immediately took the lead back with a bucket by Jada Boyd, to give the Pack a 26-25 lead at the half.

At the half, the Wolfpack were led by Eissa Cunane and Jada Boyd with six points each. The Cardinals were led by Kiana Smith with nine points. The Pack scored 14 of their 26 first-half points in the paint.

After Louisville opened the second half with a basket, NC State responded with a 7-0 run over the next minute and 45 seconds, to force a Louisville timeout with 7:11 remaining in the third quarter. The Cardinals closed the quarter on a 12-4 run to take a 43-40 lead heading into the final quarter. 

Through three quarters, Cunane led the Wolfpack with 11 points and six rebounds and Smith led the Cardinals with 13 points. 

The fourth quarter began with the Cardinals trying to expand their lead, but Elissa Cunane and the Wolfpack wouldn’t allow that to happen, cutting the deficit to one with three and a half minutes to play in the game.

The Wolfpack took their first lead of the fourth quarter (55-54) as Cunane knocked down two free-throws. Dana Evans responded with a clutch basket with two minutes to play, to give the Cardinals the lead right back. 

The score was tied at 56 when graduate transfer Raina Perez buried a mid-range jumper from the elbow, to give the Wolfpack a 58-56 lead with 2 seconds remaining. Dana Evans had a chance to win the game as time expired, but her three-point attempt fell short and to the right. 

“I was honeslty looking for the pass. I hadn’t made a shot in the second half but the opportunity came so I took it,” Perez said when asked about the shot. 

The Cardinals were led by Dana Evans with 15 points and Kiana Smith with 13 points. The Wolfpack were led by Elissa Cunane with 20 points and nine rebounds and Raina Perez with nine points, including the game-winner with two seconds remaining. Kayla Jones dominated the glass, grabbing ten of the Pack’s 35 rebounds. 

“It’s amazing to be on top again,” Cunane said following the victory.

“Everyone contributed, made big plays when we needed them. It’s a great day for NC State,” coach Wes Moore said following the game. “As Jim Valano said, never give up. That’s what we did today” 

The Wolfpack, (20-2, 13-2 ACC) will now put their attention to the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack has high hopes of landing a number one seed for this year’s NCAA Tournament. Let March Madness begin!