The Wolfpack women’s basketball team cruised past Hampton 81-56 Wednesday at Reynolds Coliseum.
NC State (2-0) gained its second home victory of the season with the win over the Pirates (0-3). Redshirt senior Dominique Wilson led the way with 23 points, one assist, one block and three steals. Wilson shot 8 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 from behind the arc.
NC State opened the game on a 12-6 run as Wilson controlled the run by scoring all 12 of the team’s points, shooting 4 of 4 from the field during the opening five minutes of play.
“It seemed like the ball just kept landing in my hands,” Wilson said. “I was open, so I just got to knock down the shot.”
State finished the quarter with a 17-13 lead. The Pack was unable to find its groove in the first, shooting 5 of 13 from the field and 2 of 8 behind the arc. Additionally, the Pack committed six fouls while the Pirates were called for seven.
Hampton opened the second quarter strong and reduced the deficit to 24-21 before the first timeout. The Pack fought back, going on a 14-5 run to end the half. The Pack was able to improve on its shooting as it went 8 of 17 from the field to finish the half.
“Second period, we picked it up a bit and played a little better,” said NC State head coach Wes Moore.
The Pirates were able to find their shots from behind the arc in the second quarter as well, shooting 60 percent from the field. Hampton was unable to even the score, but the Pirates showed an all-around team effort as six of the nine players who appeared in the half put up points on the board.
The Pack came out firing in the second half, knocking down six 3-pointers while missing just one in the first five minutes of play to jump out to a 56-32. Senior guard Ashley Williams led the offensive outburst, shooting 3 of 3 from beyond the arc during the 18-6 run from State. Williams finished the night with 13 points shooting 4 of 6 from 3-point land.
“When we get hot, we are pretty tough to beat,” Williams said. “I think that happened in the third quarter, and our defense fed off of that as well.”
The Pack ran away with the game in the third, increasing its lead to 27 points. State finished the third 7 of 12 from the field, with all seven baskets coming from 3-point range. In addition the Pack shot 6 of 8 from the free-throw line in the quarter.
The Wolfpack continued its dominance in the fourth quarter, behind the strong play from its bench players. None of the Pack starters saw the court in the final period of play, as the Pack closed out the game.
“I am pleased that we had an opportunity in the first two games to play [freshman],” Moore said. “We are trying to get [the freshman] to get some confidence.”
The Pirates committed a total of 30 fouls with three players fouling out in the game. They also shot 36 percent from the field.
The Pack won the rebound battle, tallying 46 rebounds, but struggled to handle the ball, tallying 23 turnovers.
“Hampton can make you play sloppy,” Moore said. “They fly around, double, and trap, they turned it into a pretty ugly affair in the fourth period anyway.”.
The Pack continues its homestand Saturday, as the team takes on Charleston in Reynolds Coliseum.
Freshman forward Erika Cassell goes up for a quick layup. Cassell had four points and four rebounds while putting up stats in nearly every other category during her 14 minutes of play. The Wolfpack took down Hampton 81-56 in Reynolds Coliseum on Wednesday.
