The No. 9 NC State women’s basketball team took on Boston College at the Conte Forum Sunday afternoon, entering with a school record-tying 14 straight wins to begin the season. The Eagles entered the game with 11 total wins and couldn’t knock off the undefeated Pack, losing 85-69.
The Pack (15-0, 2-0 ACC) dominated all facets of the game behind graduate guard Kiara Leslie’s career-high 31 points with nearly perfect shooting, going 87 percent from the field and 75 percent from beyond the arc. Leslie stuffed the stat sheet as well with three rebounds, three assists and two steals as well as only one turnover and one foul against the Eagles (11-4, 0-2 ACC).
The Wolfpack came out of the gates strong with 21 first-quarter points compared to the Eagles’ seven first-quarter points. In fact, Leslie outscored the Eagles 10-7 in the first quarter on two 3-point shots and a pair of lay-ups.
Junior guard Aislinn Konig was also extremely efficient for the Pack, shooting 55 percent from the floor, good for 16 points. Konig also led the team in assists with four, and had two steals. Konig began the game with a 3 as she shot 57 percent from 3-point range.
The biggest lead of the game was 25 points late in the third quarter, at 69-44, after a Konig 3-pointer. The Pack also never trailed in the game after its 21-7 start, and was only outscored in the fourth quarter 22-16.
Senior forward DD Rogers was not able to impact the game from a scoring standpoint, but her overall defense was felt for the team, as she tied a team high with three blocks. Rogers also grabbed eight total rebounds, three of which were offensive, two steals and two assists on only two turnovers and two fouls.
Sophomore guard Kai Crutchfield and junior forward Erika Cassell were also strong for the Pack, with each recording 10 points. The pair combined for five rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block, two turnovers and two fouls, which is overall greatly efficient. Crutchfield shot 43 percent from the floor, but 50 percent from 3, while Cassell shot 83 percent from the floor.
Freshman center Elissa Cunane was also impactful off the bench for the Pack, recording nine points, six rebounds and three assists. Cunane also tied Rogers for a team-high three blocks.
Eagles’ guard Mikayla Dickens was the leading scorer for Boston College, with 17 points, but the Pack was able to defend her well for the most part, only allowing Dickens to shoot 43 percent from the field. Eagles forward Emma Guy also contributed 17 points and seven rebounds, but Guy committed five total fouls after leading the team in minutes.
The win marks a school-record 15 straight victories to begin the season and yet another significant accomplishment for this team and for the tenure of head coach Wes Moore.
The game also marked the second ACC game of the season, but the ACC portion of the schedule is manageable for a women’s team that has dominated in every game thus far, and only two opponents in the ACC are currently ranked. The Pack faces battles in every game it plays, but continues to dominate and is having one of the best seasons in school history.
The 85 points scored in the game by the Wolfpack tied a season-high that was recorded in the game against Old Dominion.
The Wolfpack will face the Pittsburgh Panthers (9-6 , 0-1 ACC) in Reynolds Coliseum on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.
