Last season when N.C. State traveled to Georgia Tech, Nikitta Gartrell played eight minutes and went 0-for-4 from the field with one turnover.
But this year’s game against the Yellow Jackets was supposed to be different.
The sophomore guard from Atlanta started all 17 games so far this season, while averaging just more than nine points, four rebounds and three assists per game.
But for Gartrell, the Georgia Tech game is a big one.
Not only is it an ACC game, but it’s against her hometown team.
However, a lot changed on Tuesday afternoon. With only minutes remaining in practice, Gartrell stepped on a foot and went down in pain. As she did, her teammates and coaches in Reynolds Coliseum went silent while she was helped to the team’s bench.
The result? An ankle sprain. Out until at least Sunday. No playing Thursday. No playing against her hometown school.
“My initial reaction was ‘Oh my god, I just pray I can play on Thursday and throughout the rest of the season,'” she said.
Gartrell, who said she is on crutches for the first time in her life, already informed her family of the injury.
“As far as family, everybody knows that I’m injured or whatever,” Gartrell said. “It’s a big game for me, but it’s a big game for my teammates as well. Even though I’m out, they’re still going to do their best.”
Although she is out for Thursday’s game, she said she is questionable, even probable for Sunday’s game at Duke.
After practice on Tuesday, coach Kay Yow said she was upset that Gartrell was injured going into Thursday’s game.
“I know this is a really important game for her,” Yow said. “All ACC games are, but when it’s from your hometown — I know she’d love to play in this game.”
So far this season, Yow said Gartrell has done a lot to help the team with its transition and penetration game. Defensively, she typically guards the other team’s point guard and pressures the opponent full-court, according to Yow. And she doesn’t do much backing down, according to sophomore guard Sharnise Beal.
“That’s just the type of player she is — Nikitta’s always been like that,” Beal said. “Working with the scout guys, it helps bring out your aggressiveness because they’re men.”
According to Gartrell, her injury, along with injuries for sophomore Lucy Ellison and senior Khadijah Whittington, shouldn’t affect the team too much.
“Well, I don’t think the momentum has stopped because of my teammates,” Gartrell said. “My teammates will pull through. We have a lot of nagging injuries on our team, but the team is not going to stop for one person.”
While Yow said Gartrell “can get a little bit out of control at times,” she said the guard contributes to the Wolfpack in many aspects.
“She always finds a way to help us,” Yow said. “It might be rebounding one game. It might be penetration in another. Others it’s taking the baseline jump shot. And some games she’s hit a couple of [three-pointers] that have really helped us.”
Even without Gartrell and her aggressiveness, the sophomore said the team can still earn a win at home.
“It’s not like I’m not there,” Gartrell said. “I’m still going to be on the bench cheering for my teammates. No matter what, they’re still going to bring the intensity and hopefully pull this game out.”
Probable StartersN.C. StatePosition Player YearF Khadijah Whittington, SeniorG Shayla Fields, JuniorC Chanita Jordan, SophomoreG Sharnise Beal, SophomoreG Megan Zullo, Redshirt freshman
Georgia TechPosition Player YearF Janie Mitchell, SeniorG Chioma Nnamaka, SeniorF Alex Montgomery, FreshmanG Iasia Hemingway, FreshmanG Jacqua Williams, Junior
Last five games against Georgia TechDate Site ResultFeb. 1, 2004 Home W 75-71Feb. 26, 2004 Away L 76-61Feb. 10, 2005 Away W 83-59Feb. 12, 2006 Home W 65-53Feb. 11, 2007 Away L 69-62
N.C. State all-time against Georgia TechOverall: 39-16Home: 20-5Away: 16-10Neutral: 3-1
Nikitta Gartrell2006-2007(28 games) 2007-2008 (17 games)Starts 15 17Minutes 14.3 per game 26.1 per game Points 4.7 per game 9.4 per gameRebounds2.0 per game 4.1 per game
