The NC State women’s basketball team will look to extend its five-game winning streak Thursday in Raleigh as the Wolfpack takes on the Florida State Seminoles at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Wolfpack (17-5, 6-3) enters Thursday’s game receiving 16 votes in the AP Poll, good enough for the second-most votes amongst unranked teams.
Florida State (18-3, 6-2) is fresh off a 31-point drubbing at the hands of Notre Dame on Sunday and heads into Raleigh ranked No. 10 in the country after peaking as high as eighth in the AP Poll.
Through Jan. 28, the Seminoles are led by forward Shakayla Thomas, who averages 18 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and guard Imani Wright, who averages 18.2 points and 3.7 3-pointers per game.
The Wolfpack’s forwards and centers will have a tough time keeping the Seminoles off the boards on Thursday. Florida State has four players averaging six or more rebounds per game, and is led by center Chatrice White at 7.7.
Rebounding could be the key to this game, as three of the Wolfpack’s four leading rebounders are guards. A big game down low for senior center Akela Maize, who averages 5.5 rebounds per game, could be vital in order for the Wolfpack to pull off the upset win.
NC State will also look to slow down Wright and the Seminoles’ horrid 3-point shooting; Florida State enters Thursday’s concert shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc on over 20 attempts per game.
The Pack will hope its stingy defense, which allows only 56.1 points per game and forces 14.9 turnovers per game will be able to slow down a Florida State offense that ranks first in the ACC and seventh in the nation with 85 points per game.
The Wolfpack offense is led by senior forward Chelsea Nelson, who averages a near double-double with 12.9 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game, and redshirt junior guard Kiara Leslie who averages 12 points per game and six rebounds per game.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kaila Ealey leads the Wolfpack with 4.5 assists per game while sophomore guard Aislinn Konig is second on the team with 2.8 per game.
NC State currently sits at sixth in the ACC with zero wins against ranked opponents, so a win on Thursday night could go a long way in bolstering the Pack’s NCAA tournament resume and would likely elevate the Wolfpack into the AP Top 25.
The game tips off at 7 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh and will be televised on ACC Network Extra.
