The Wolfpack Women’s basketball team hit the floor of historic Reynolds Coliseum Monday night for a contest against its rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels. Before the game there was a moment of silence in memorial for the late Coach Kay Yow, who died one year ago Sunday.
‘It’s not the same over here without Kay,’ North Carolina Coach Sylvia Hatchell said.’ ‘I like Kellie and think they’re doing a great job. But I don’t think people give Kay enough credit for what she’s done for women’s basketball.’
The first half started with the Wolfpack and the Tar Heels going back and forth with both teams working aggressively on the defensive side of the ball.’ State was quick to force turnovers against the Heels, but the Wolfpack found it difficult to capitalize off of the Tar Heel mistakes.
The Pack had some open looks at the basket, but had trouble getting into an offensive rhythm. With 12:18 to go in the first half, senior Nikitta Gartrell hit a two-pointer to surpass 1,000 career points in her Wolfpack career.
About halfway through the first half, the shots started to fall on both ends of the court as junior forward Brittany Strachan nailed two three pointers off the bench for the Pack. Her two threes put the Pack up 16-12 with 10:27 left in the first half. Tar Heel coach Sylvia Hatchell sensed that the Pack was on a run and decided to call a timeout. Her players got the message as they went on a run themselves and tied the game up at 18 points apiece with eight minutes to go in the half.
‘I think it’s been important all year long that we know what we get from Brittany when she steps on the court. She’s been very consistent with her role and that’s huge,’ Pack coach Kellie Harper said.
State and Carolina both had their troubles throughout the first half making shots as both teams were 31 percent from the field in the first half. The Tar Heels were able to keep it close as a result of second and third chances underneath the basket and held a distinct advantage in offensive rebounds in the first half, grabbing 13 to the Pack’s eight.
‘When things weren’t going well and they were making their run, that’s when you need it the most,’ Harper said. ‘That’s when you have to be at your best, mentally, and your toughest, and we weren’t.’
The Tar Heel run ended at the six minute mark when Strachan put in a layup to put the Pack up, 25-20. The Wolfpack went into halftime without having allowed a single three-pointer and leading the Tar Heels by one point, 29-28.
Senior forward Lucy Ellison drains two buckets at the start of the second half to increase the Pack lead to 33-28. State benefitted from some early misses from the Lady Heels that turned into baskets on the other side of the court. Junior forward Tia Bell sank a three-pointer to increase the lead to 42-34.
The Tar Heels countered the run with a run of their own as they went on a 10-3 scoring spurt in 1:03 of game play. This run shortened the Pack’s lead to just two with about ten minutes to play in the game.’ With eight minutes left in the ball game, the Tar Heels took the lead on a basket by junior guard Italee Lucas to put the Heels up 57-51. State’s offensive game stopped clicking as the Heels changed defensive schemes in order to cover Strachan, the leading scorer for her team in the first half.
‘I think they were more aware of where I was more in the second half, and that changed me as far as having time to get my shot off,’ Strachan said.
With three minutes to go the Heels were up, 71-62. The Pack never seemed to get a foothold in the rest of the contest and committed several personal fouls to end the game. Junior guard Italee Lucas ran the court, scoring 28 points in the second half of play and finishing the game with a career-high 33 points. Lucas hit key free throws down the stretch to put the Pack away, 81-69.
‘I felt like our kids come to win every night, and we’re all very disappointed that we weren’t able to do that tonight,’ Harper said.
The loss puts the Pack at 12-8 ( 2-3 in the ACC.) The Pack plays its next game in Charlottesville, Va. Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Wolf TV coverage of the game:
