On a team loaded with players who can score, it can be hard to separate one from the rest of the Pack, but graduate forward Mimi Collins has done just that by stepping up at the most important time of the year. She has recorded six straight games with double-digit points and is the only player on NC State to notch over 10 points in every game during this stretch.
Collins is in the midst of a career year, averaging career highs in points and rebounds. The graduate forward understands it is her last year in college and is using it as motivation on the court.
“This is my last rodeo, so I just want to make the most of it and soak it in,” Collins said. “Just being that vet, I think that mindset shifted a lot for me because, you know when you’re young and you’re like, ‘Oh, I got another year I could do this and grow.’ And it’s like, when being the super senior, it’s like, ‘Nah, your two months is coming up.’”
Collins’ ability to score from anywhere on the floor is what makes her so tough to guard. Against Miami and UNC-Chapel Hill, she drilled multiple 3’s while shooting at a 50% or better clip in both contests from beyond the arc.
While Collins is a proven sniper from the outside, she does not settle. In wins over Boston College and Clemson, she did not attempt a 3-pointer, instead she opted to punish her opponents inside the paint. She also showed off her smooth mid-range jumper in these games, making it even tougher to stop Collins from getting buckets.
When Collins is attacking the paint with force, it’s hard for her defenders to stop her without fouling. Collins is not shying away from the contact though because she is one of the Wolfpack’s best free throw shooters. Over the last six games, she has made 22 free throws while missing just five.
NC State has also relied on Collins to set the tone on offense as she’s reached double-digit points by halftime in four of the last six games. Her 12 first-half points were especially crucial in NC State’s last matchup against UNC to help give the Pack a seven-point halftime advantage.
The former five-star recruit has been the Wolfpack’s most consistent threat on offense recently, but her impact on defense shouldn’t go unnoticed. Collins has anchored the paint admirably, recording a three-block game against Virginia and two blocks vs. Duke.
She’s also a major reason why NC State leads the ACC in rebounds per game — she’s second on the team with 6.7 rebounds per game. Collins has snatched down five or more boards in the last six games and has crashed the offensive glass to give the Pack extra possessions on offense.
It’s clear Collins is making a huge impact on the court, but her leadership off the court is what makes her a special player. Everyone on the squad feeds off her energy, and junior guard Saniya Rivers said she’s become the Wolfpack’s hype woman.
“Our videography team put together a video, a hype video of us before the game so we watched it, and, like Mimi just lit the whole video,” Rivers said. “Mimi gets me lit and she’s all in my face, it just makes me feel good. … She’s a great teammate. A great friend.”
Collins has emerged as one of NC State’s most consistent players over the past few weeks and she will be heavily relied upon as the Pack looks to compete for a national championship.
