© N.C. State Student Media 2011
Junior Bonae Holston screens a defender, clearing a way for guard Marissa Kasanek to score. The Wolfpack won its third straight game on Senior Night, beating the Eagles 80-69.
The women’s basketball team picked up its third consecutive conference victory as it defeated Boston College 80-69 on Senior Night in Reynolds Coliseum. The win also marked the third straight year in which the Pack has been victorious on Senior Night.
Coach Kellie Harper said last night’s grind-it-out style against the Eagles was very different from the team’s win over North Carolina on Monday.
“I’m glad that our kids were able to win very differently than Monday night,” Harper
said. “We had a real well-played game on Monday. It was pretty basketball. The
atmosphere was electric. To follow that up with a grind it out win I think speaks
very highly of our kids and where we are mentally now. “
The Pack was able to avenge its loss to Boston College in Chestnut Hill earlier this season and overcome the size of the Eagles’ frontcourt to pull out the win. Junior Bonae Holston’s 28 points led all scorers, but senior Amber White’s star shined the brightest as she finished with an impressive 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists in her last game at Reynolds Coliseum. Fellow senior Brittany Strachan also contributed three points and six rebounds.
“I felt like when we played them earlier in the year, we didn’t get the ball inside,” Harper said. “We were a little bit intimidated of them last time. Tonight,
our guards were calling plays to get Bonae [Holston] the ball, and that shows me that they understand how to win.”
The game started off with the Eagles in control as they shot out to a 4-10 lead over
the Pack. But State was able to stay in striking distance throughout the first half and a steal from sophomore Marissa Kastanek leading to a White layup tied the score at 19. A free throw attempt from junior Bonae Holston gave the Pack its
first lead of the game, 23-22.
The half continued to play out as a tug of war between the teams until a White free
throw gave the Pack the lead again at 34-33 and the Pack didn’t look back. State went into the locker room at the half, leading 42-36.
The Pack was able to take advantage of BC by getting into the paint and drawing 10 fouls in the half. State went 12-14 from the free throw line, whereas the Eagles only shot 4-7 from the stripe.
Holston had a great first half, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds.
“We had a hard time containing their penetration and then stopping [Holston], “
Boston College coach Sylvia Crawley said. “She got hot and once she got hot she was hard to stop. “
The beginning of the second half continued to swing in favor of the Pack. A layup
from freshman Kody Burke gave the Pack its first double digit lead at 46-36 and a
spectacular self-pass from White on the inbound on the baseline gave the Pack a 15 point lead at 58-45, its largest of the game.
Boston College was able to close the gap late in the second half to bring the game
within four points with a layup from Jaclyn Thoman, but free throws from Kastanek
and freshman Myisha Goodwin-Coleman put the game away for the Pack and sealed the deal.
The Pack will end its season at Wake Forest on Sunday at 2 pm. With a win, the Pack can potentially move up to the eighth seed in the ACC Tournament, which will be held from March 4-6 in Greensboro, N.C.