Last season, the NC State Women’s Basketball team set a school record by winning each of its first 21 games. So far in this 2019-2020 season, the No. 8 Wolfpack has arguably played just as superbly.
Through 18 games, the statistics show this team is a dominant force on the court. Its average scoring margin is an astounding 19.6, good enough for the 14th-best average scoring margin in NCAA Division 1. This trend of blowing out opponents is certainly a big factor in State’s No. 8 ranking. The Pack does not just beat their competitors — it convincingly does so.
In addition to winning by comfortable margins, another aspect of the game in which State excels is rebounding. The Wolfpack outrebounds its competitors by 10.5 rebounds, another elite statline which ranks NC State at 10th in the country. This domination of the backboards allows head coach Wes Moore’s squad to possess the ball more often and subsequently control the game.
The team is also prolific in its shot defense. The Wolfpack only allows 33.2% of opposing shots to go through the hoop, a mark that places them at 6th in the nation. This ability to hinder opponents on the court shows focus on both sides of the ball by the Wolfpack.
Even with each player contributing to NC State’s success in this women’s basketball season, a large part of that success can be attributed to sophomore center Elissa Cunane. Among the players donning red and white who average at least 10 minutes per game, Cunane leads the team in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds per game, points per game and total blocks. Additionally, the 6-foot-5 center places among the top 25 players in the country in double-doubles, field goal percentage, total rebounds, defensive rebounds per game and total rebounds per game. In a sentence, the contributions from number 33 are integral to the team’s success.
Despite its 17-1 record, NC State has room for improvement. The team is second in Division 1 with 12.3 personal fouls per game, a number that could spell trouble in close games. In addition to potential foul trouble, the Pack may also have a weakness in closing games. A disproportionate 30.8% of points scored by opposing teams come in the 4th quarter. Although this figure can be attributed to a more relaxed defense while sitting on a big lead, it does leave room for opposing teams to possibly stage a late comeback and threaten that undefeated record.
Overall, this top-10 team seems to be soaring over the competition, especially in the scoring and rebounding departments. Despite a couple of nitpicks in the statlines, the NC State Wolfpack is set to continue its string of quality performances for the foreseeable future.
