After storming back from a 13-point deficit against Wake Forest Sunday, the NC State women’s basketball team hopes to carry that momentum into Thursday’s showdown as the Pack hosts No. 12 UNC-Chapel Hill.
The Wolfpack (12-6, 3-2 ACC) has struggled in its last six games, playing .500 ball over that period. The Tar Heels (16-3, 3-2 ACC) last played Sunday as well, easily taking care of the Clemson Tigers 78-56.
Despite the recent struggles and some questionable losses, the Pack looks to regain its winning ways from just a season ago in order to gain momentum down the stretch heading into the ACC Tournament with hopes of earning a bid to the Big Dance.
These two teams met in Chapel Hill earlier this season, with the Tar Heels taking the cake 72-56. The Pack shot 30 percent from the field (18 percent from beyond the arc) as only one player reached double figures for the Red and White.
Offense is key for the Pack: In each of the Pack’s six losses this season, the team has failed to score 70 points or more, and in its 12 wins, the team has only scored under 70 twice.
As expected, sophomore guards Miah Spencer and Dominique Wilson have carried the Pack’s scoring burden this season, with 14.6 and 14.3 points per game, respectively.
The Pack also kept it close in tough losses at No. 4 Louisville and Tulane and at home against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota, so there’s little doubt about the team’s perseverance and never-say-die mentality, but whether that translates to good basketball and statement wins against ranked opponents is still a question mark.
The Tar Heels roll into Thursday’s contest winning seven of their last nine games. With three losses on the season to then-No. 16 Oregon State, then-No. 7 Notre Dame and a drudging at the hands of the Pitt Panthers, the Heels remain a formidable opponent for the Pack.
Sophomore guard Jessica Washington comes into the game after scoring a career-high 20 points off the bench for the Heels in their win over Clemson. Forward Stephanie Mavunga and guards Allisha Gray and Jamie Cherry also scored in double figures for Carolina.
Chapel Hill’s stingy defense has held up as the Heels have held their opponent to under 60 points on 10 different occasions this season.
Several elements surrounding this game may help sway favor toward the Pack. The Heels aren’t playing their best basketball as of late, splitting their last four games. This may also be a potential trap game for the Tar Heels, as they have another rivalry game slated for Sunday at home against No. 15 Duke.
Including Thursday’s game, of the Heels’ next seven games, four come against ranked opponents, so the mindset of the Tar Heels might be preoccupied to say the least. Another point to note: The Pack’s come-from-behind win on Sunday just might be the adrenaline shot this team needed to come out against UNC-CH with a tenacity State fans have yet to see this season.
After Thursday’s matchup with UNC-CH, the Pack travels to upstate New York to take on the No. 23 Syracuse Orange before embarking on a six-game stretch involving unranked teams.
The brunt of the schedule arrives in State’s last three games this season, as the Pack will take on No. 15 Duke, No. 17 Florida State and No. 6 Notre Dame.
