After losing its first four ACC games, the women’s basketball team has won two in a row.
N.C. State’s first ACC win of the season came on Friday against Virginia Tech, when State beat the Hokies 60-50. The Wolfpack played at home again on Sunday, defeating Wake Forest 63-38.
The game wasn’t much of a contest. The Deacons’ first and only lead of the game came at the 17:17 mark of the first half — the Deacs led the Pack 2-0.
Senior forward Khadijah Whittington and redshirt freshman guard Megan Zullo led the team with 12 points each, followed by Chanita Jordan and Shayla Fields with nine points each. Jordan scored all her points in the first half.
Yow said it felt good to get win number two in the ACC this weekend.
“It was a weekend that would either make us or break us, so it was really good to play hard and come out with a win,” Yow said. “We’re gonna have to win a game or two on someone else’s home court now. I thought the team that started set a great rhythm and standard for us with their hard work on the defensive end of the court.”
Yow said her team has to shoot a good percentage and try not to have a lot of turnovers.
“We can’t combine turnovers with not shooting the ball great,” Yow said. “It’s like in baseball when you get no hits, but you have errors too. Then you find yourself in trouble. Only nine turnovers today, that is exactly what we need on the offensive end.”
On the offensive end, Zullo shot 4-for-9 from behind the 3-point line, scoring four out of the Pack’s five 3-pointers. Zullo said she is getting comfortable as the season progresses.
“I definitely feel more relaxed,” Zullo said. “I have a little bit more confidence. On offense when you make a shot or make a good pass, you always build up a little more confidence each play.”
Jordan, who played only seven minutes in the game and didn’t play in the second half, took her playing time in stride.
“When I got in the game and got my chance, I knew I had to chip in the best that I could,” Jordan said.
Both Zullo and Jordan needed to score in the game against Wake. Whittington, who reached the 1,000-rebound mark on Friday against Virginia Tech, becoming the fourth State player to do so, was being double- and triple-teamed. Zullo said she tries to get her shot ready because the concentration will be on Whittington.
“I started getting as many reps as I can in practice and try to get my rhythm,” Zullo said. “When I get into a game, I just try to be ready when other teams concentrate on KD [Whittington] to be ready to spot up and shoot.”
Yow said she was impressed by both Zullo’s and Whittington’s performances.
“Balance is exactly what we need,” Yow said. “I think Meg has a great shot, and we need more from her every game and for her to have more consistency. Of course for KD, it is really hard when you are double- and triple-teamed. The great thing about her is that she doesn’t let that take her out of the game. She still rebounds. She still plays defense, and she still tries to find a way to help us.”
Yow said Jordan did well but is still improving.
“But we do need to look for Meg when she is wide open. Chanita came in and did a good job of being aggressive and taking it to the hole,” Yow said. “I am a little disappointed with her defense. If she can just keep getting better and help us on the boards, she will begin to put a solid game together.”
The team only has eight games remaining, five on the road. Yow knows that it is important to start games well.
“It is very important [to jump out to an early lead] because there is no team in the ACC that is a bad team,” Yow said. “It’s like us when we were 0-4, we’re not giving up, and neither is Wake Forest, because you can be this close to turning the corner. So you are going to play harder, and in a sense you can’t worry about losing because they have already lost, so you go out and give it your best effort. It is scary to play those teams because they are fearless.”
By the Numbers N.C. State vs. Wake Forest2 ACC wins this season for State12 points each for Khadijah Whittington and Megan Zullo to lead the team in scoring17 Points off turnovers for State25 Points, State’s largest lead17:17 Mark of first half, first points scored in the game by Wake12:01 Mark of second half, first points scored by Wake in the second half, Pack led 45-22Source: N.C. State Athletics