Coming off of a three-game losing streak, the NC State women’s basketball team looks to turn its fortunes around as it takes on Pittsburgh and Wake Forest over the weekend.
The Wolfpack (12-9, 3-5 ACC) has lost three of its last five games, with those losses being to ranked opponents. The players got the weekend off after a Thursday night loss to Virginia and likely spent that time looking to resolve any issues they faced during the two game losing streak.
The issues for the team have been varied. Against UNC-Chapel Hill, State allowed 14 second-chance points while accumulating zero. Against Syracuse, the team simply shot poorly, recording at a meager 27.7 percent from the field. Lastly, against Virginia, the Cavs made 11 of its 15 attempts from three-point range, opposed to the Pack’s 6-for-26 mark, leading to an eight-point loss for State.
Sophomore guard Miah Spencer has averaged 13 points and a team-high 3.7 assists per game. However, she has been on a bit of a slump as of late, putting up just 10 points in the last three games combined. The Pack relies greatly on her scoring, as Spencer will need to get back on track in order for the team to start winning again.
The key to the team’s success starts with the production of its explosive backcourt -— Spencer, redshirt sophomore guard Dominique Wilson and redshirt senior guard Len’Nique Brown-Hoskin.
Brown-Hoskin has averaged 10.1 points per game and is second on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game despite being the shortest player on the team, while Wilson has been the team’s most consistent scoring threat, leading NC State with 14.4 points per game.
However, like all teams, the Pack needs production from its post players to create scoring opportunities for these guards. Sophomore forward Jennifer Mathurin has stepped up in recent games, averaging just over 13 points over the past three games, and averages 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on the season.
Junior center Carlee Schuhmacher has started all but one game this season, and averages 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Pittsburgh (14-7, 4-4 ACC) is on about the same level as the Pack: sitting in the middle of a crowded ACC cluster and looking to end the season strong for a chance at a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers rely mostly on senior guard Brianna Kiesel for their scoring and overall offense. The three-year captain averages an impressive 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Kiesel is the key to topping the Panthers and the Pack will need to keep its best defender on her at all times.
Graduate forward Monica Wignot will be another name to watch. Wignot spent her previous four years as a volleyball player for the Panthers but has delivered for Pitt this season. Though she hadn’t played basketball since high school, Wignot has served as the Panthers’ most dominant post player, averaging 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Wake Forest (10-13, 1-8 ACC) is a slightly different story than Pitt. The Deacs are currently in a major slump, having lost eight of their last nine games, and sits at the bottom of the conference with little hopes or aspirations of making it to the NCAA Tournament.
However, the Deacs are not a team that should be taken lightly. In the two squads’ previous meeting, the Pack trailed by six at the half and didn’t back take the lead against Wake until the final 12 minutes of the game.
Despite the Deacs’ struggles, the team possesses the ACC’s third leading scorer in senior forward Dearica Hamby, who averages a double-double with 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Hamby’s size and athleticism creates matchup issues for whichever team she faces. The senior put up 19 points and snagged 14 boards in the previous outing against NC State.
NC State will take on Pittsburgh tonight at 7 p.m. and Wake Forest on Sunday at 2 p.m.
