The last time N.C. State (23-8, 10-4) upset a nationally-ranked opponent, it came at the hands of then-No. 2 North Carolina.
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The women’s basketball team won that game 72-65 in Reynolds Coliseum – a game where fans rushed the court in celebration of the Wolfpack win.
State defeated its second nationally-ranked team this season when it beat No. 1 Duke, 70-65 in the first semifinal game of the women’s ACC Tournament.
When the buzzer sounded for the end of this upset victory though, there was no scene of excited students or fans rushing the court – only cheerleaders and members of the team.
But sophomore guard Shayla Fields, who faced the task of guarding the Blue Devils sharp-shooter sophomore guard Abby Waner, didn’t mind the lack of rushing fans.
“It was kind of awkward,” Fields said. “The team was enough because we won the game and just being out there with our teammates and our coaches – it was just a great feeling.”
To begin the game it appeared that State’s chances of pulling off the improbable upset over previously unbeaten Duke were slim, with Waner connecting on her first three three-point shot attempts, and the Devils gaining a 14-2 lead.
State rebounded from its early struggles though, and finished the first half with an 11-3 run – bringing the Pack to within three points, 34-31.
In the second half, both teams struggled to gain control of the game with four ties and nine lead changes.
With the score tied 46-46 with 12:43 remaining, Duke gained the momentum when it pushed the score to 61-53 after a 15-7 run – but State refused to be denied.
Senior guard Ashley Key, who scored 15 of her game-high 21 points in the second half, made a 3-point basket and a lay up while senior center Gillian Goring converted on two offensive rebounds, giving the Pack a 64-63 lead with only 2:27 remaining.
After Duke’s senior center Alison Bales gave Duke the lead after two made free throws, Key showed her senior leadership when she drove to the lane and nailed a pull-up jumper to give State a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Key said taking the shot with only 1:18 remaining required nothing special – just taking an open shot.
“It felt good when it left my fingers and thank God it went in,” Key said.
Yow said the game was a struggle for both teams, comparing it to a “15-round fight.”
“We took an early punch, got back up, and hung tough,” Yow said. “We were on the ropes a lot. But at the end we were able to, you know, get the knockout.”