© 2010 NCSU Student Media
A Marissa Kastanek put-back wound up being the deciding marker in a 66-64 thriller against the Miami Hurricanes Sunday afternoon.
But the game paled in comparison next to the cause it supported. The fifth annual Hoops 4 Hope raised money and awareness for a lofty goal: a cure for breast cancer.
“Knowing that last year was the year was the last time that Coach [Kay] Yow was a part of it definitely motivated me because I wanted to be out there more than ever,” guard Amber White said. “I thought about it all week. It was on the calander and it definitely provided additional motivation for me.”
The Wolfpack Women started off slow, missing their first three attempts from the field. Miami scored the first five points of the game, but a steal from senior guard Amber White and two free throws put the Pack on the board.
The shooting woes continued for the Pack throughout the first half, shooting 31 percent from the field. State failed to convert on its first seven three-pointer attempts.
The Pack was able to keep itself within striking distance, going 11-for-13 from the free throw line.
“They were getting good looks and even the times they took some tough shots they were making them. We weren’t scoring at the pace they were scoring,” coach Kellie Harper said.
Miami was able to keep State at bay and led 35-29 at the half. Approximately 150 cancer survivors, grouped together by decade, gathered on the court. Afterward, three banners commemorating the life of Kay Yow found a permanent home in the Reynolds Coliseum rafters.
State began to hit its stride offensively during the second half. It started the half off with a 6-0 run, but Miami responded with a 6-0 run of its own. Forward Brittney Strachan hit the Pack’s first three of the game.
Senior forward Sharnise Beal provided much-needed support off the bench in the second half, when she scored all six of her points.
“I thought Sharnise came in and did some really good things for us, got a couple of rebounds, got a couple of plays, and was able to score some baskets,” Harper said. “She was able to get to the free throw line. She gave us a spark when we needed it.”
The final two minutes of the game were full of energy from the Pack and worked the fans into a frenzy.
Kastanek’s basket gave State a 66-63 lead with 1:05 left in the game.
“Amber had been on me the whole game to go rebound because I kept forgetting,” Kastanek said. “So I ran in there, I caught the ball, and just did what I had to do to help my team out.”
With 50 seconds remaining in the game, the Pack sent Miami forward Morgan Stroman to the free throw line with a chance to tie it. The noise level in Reynolds Coliseum hit unprecedented levels. Stroman made the front end of the one and one, but the second bounced off the rim.
After a missed layup by Miami’s Charmaine Clark with seconds left, the game was sealed. After the clock ran out, Harper assured the crowd that it helped the team to victory.
“We talked about this day being bigger than our team, that this is more than just a basketball game,” Harper said. “But at the same time, we had to be very focused on the task at hand.”
The Pack will return to Reynolds Coliseum Friday, Feb. 19 for Pack the House Night against Boston College.