After advancing to the quarterfinals in the ACC Tournament, the No. 6 NC State women’s basketball exited after being defeated by the No. 3 Syracuse Orange, 80-61 Friday in Greensboro Coliseum.
The Wolfpack (20-11, 10-6 ACC) shot just 4 of 16 from 3-point range, while the Orange (24-6, 13-3 ACC) shot 12 of 27. Additionally, NC State turned the ball over 18 times to Cuse’s 14, and had six of its shots blocked.
The Pack opened the game on a 3-1 run, but Syracuse fired back with a 5-0 run to take a 6-3 lead with 7:30 left in the first quarter. State responded with a 6-0 run, but the Orange heated up again, ending the quarter on a 15-5 run to take a 21-12 lead at the end of the first.
Both teams struggled to start the second quarter, as no one made a field goal until junior Alexis Peterson did at the 6:44 mark. After the Orange took a 28-20 lead with 3:17 left in the first half, NC State went on an 8-1 run to cut the deficit to one with 55 seconds left. However, Syracuse ended the half on a 5-0 run to take a 34-28 lead at the intermission.
The Wolfpack rebounded in the second half, going on a 9-1 run to take its first lead since early in the first quarter, 37-35. However, Peterson responded with two quick 3-pointers to give the Orange a four point lead. This sparked a 9-2 run, and Cuse took a 55-45 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Pack’s struggles continued into the final quarter, as it never got closer than nine points as Syracuse outscored State 25-16 in the fourth to solidify the victory.
Junior guard Miah Spencer led all scorers with 22 points on 5 of 10 from the field and 12 of 15 from the free throw line. Junior forward Jennifer Mathurin and sophomore forward Chelsea Nelson joined her in double figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Peterson led the Orange with 18 points, and senior Brianna Butler followed with 17, including 5 of 10 from three. While she only scored three points, junior center Briana Day tallied a game-high eight rebounds and four blocks.
Despite being eliminated from the ACC Tournament, the Wolfpack’s season isn’t over, as it is currently projected as a No. 8 seed for the NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore forward Chelsea Nelson fights with No. 17 Syracuse's Bria Day for possesion of a loose ball. Nelson made her presence felt with 12 points and at least one stat in every other major category. The Wolfpack struggled against the Syracuse press defense falling 80-61 during the quarterfinals of the Women's ACC Tournament on March 4th, 2016 at Greensboro Coliseum.
