Despite the packed house donned in pink, N.C . State couldn’t pull out the win over Wake Forest, falling 57-70 in the seventh annual Hoops 4 Hope game.
“I’m disappointed anytime we don’t come out of here with the win,” Head Coach Kellie Harper said. “I thought it was a good basketball game to watch. Both teams played hard and obviously it was a close game the majority of the time.”
The teams played each other close throughout the half, with two ties and six lead-changes between the Pack and Deacs . Wake guard Chelsea Douglas was its mainstay in the battle to keep the game close. She led the team in scoring for the half with 7 points and hit 2 baskets that gave the Deacons the advantage, including a layup that put the score at 13-14 and a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put them up, 21-20.
“Douglas, coming off the bench, she was a concern of ours anyway,” Harper said. “We knew she was going to play a lot of minutes. We knew, matchup wise, she would be tough for us to guard. So her coming in and scoring was not surprising to us.”
The Pack was unable to establish itself offensively in the half. It was only able to hit 9 out of 30 attempts from the field. But, it was able to stay aggressive on the boards, leading 24-17 in the rebounding battle.
State regained the lead going into the half with a layup, and one, from junior forward Lakeesha Daniel, giving it a 25-23 edge at halftime.
The halftime festivities included a presentation of cancer survivors and a performance from American Idol winner Scotty McCreery.
After a slow start in the first half, the Pack came out of the gates with a 5-0 run, but its momentum didn’t last long. Douglas came firing out the gates again by scoring 7 straight points of her own to give the Deacs the lead, 37-39. Wake forward Erin Hall also scored 5 straight points off the bench to push the Deacs lead even further.
“Their aggressiveness, trapping at the right times,” guard Myisha Goodwin-Coleman said. “As soon as we crossed half court they knew. We ran into their traps. I guess we were playing into their hands.”
A 3-pointer from senior guard Emili Tassler tied the game at 44, but a permanent momentum shift occurred with 3:40 left on the clock. Head Coach Kellie Harper got hit with a technical foul after yelling at the official and Wake Forest proceeded to go on a 10-0 run and State could not rebound.
“I think their scoring run they had in the second half, although I’m not sure what the time was, really hurt us,” Harper said. “I know it was three threes in a row. We were struggling to defend them.”
At the conclusion of the game a check in the amount of $67,746 was presented as a donation to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
“It’s exciting,” Harper said. “The fact that we can raise that much money is just amazing. So proud of … our extended family here at N.C. State for stepping up and getting some.”
State is now sitting at 4-8 in the ACC with four conference games remaining on the schedule, two of which are at home.
“Coach told us in the locker room our backs are against the wall so we [have to] come out swinging,” senior forward Bonae Holston said. “So we have to fight.”
