Coming off of N.C. State’s 73-57 route of Illinois in Champaign, the 4-4 Pack is looking forward to building a winning streak and breaking .500 with six games left on the non-conference schedule. The victory Wednesday evening stopped a two- game losing streak for the Pack, which lost to Nevada and Minnesota at the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev. by four points to both teams.
The Trojans are 4-2 on the season and are coming off a 19-point win against Quinnipiac, but have already stumbled against the ACC this season, taking a 25-point loss to Duke Nov. 15 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Trojans travel to Ohio to take on Xavier before they head to Raleigh.
Home court advantage will be a big factor in stringing together runs in a timely manner for the Pack to come away with the victory. The Pack has yet to lose at Reynolds Coliseum this season and the Trojans are 1-2 away from home so far this season.
The Packs’ defense will have to pay close attention to the Trojans’ junior guard Ashley Corral. She leads her team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. Last season, Corral lead the Pac-10 in assists with five per game and was second in 3-pointers made per game, with 2.7. She also set the Pac-10 record for 3-pointers in a single season and gained the program’s all time record, with 85 on the year. These accomplishments earned her a first-team All-Pac-10 team nod, but Corral is not USC’s only threat. Four other Trojans are sporting double-digit scoring averages per game, including junior Briana Gilbreath, who is the reigning Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, sophomore Christina Marinacci, senior Jacki Gemelos, freshman Cassie Harberts, and senior Kari LaPlante. Marinacci also averages 10 rebounds per game, making her the only Trojan who averages a double double.
Junior forward Bonae Holston will be looked to again to produce big numbers for the Pack. Holston scored 18 points and pulled down six rebounds in her team’s last action. Holston is also the team leader in scoring at 14.9 points per game and rebounds with 9.1 per game on the season. Sophomore guard Marissa Kastanek and senior guard Amber White have also been off to a great start this season, averaging 14.4 and 14 points per game, respectively, through the first eight games. Freshmen Kody Burke and Lakeesa Daniel will also be looked to for an extra scoring punch for the Pack.
Finishing their non-conference schedule strong will be essential for N.C. States’ bid to return to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year under second year coach Kellie Harper.
