Coming off a win against Florida State on Monday night, N.C. State (17-7, 6-3 ACC) will try to continue its four-game ACC winning streak tonight against Clemson (10-13, 2-6). The streak began when coach Kay Yow returned from her leave of absence for breast cancer two weeks ago.
The Wolfpack, tied for fourth place in the conference with defending national champion Maryland, comes into the game having won those last four games by an average of 18 points.
Senior forward Marquetta Dickens attributes the impressive play over the past four games to the team finding a combination that works.
“Team chemistry is really good, and we are executing really good on offense,” Dickens said. “I think our defense is really good and is leading to some good, easy offensive plays for us.”
Associate head coach Stephanie Glance said the winning streak and improved play also has something to do with the six seniors on the team, including Dickens, realizing the urgency of being a senior and the condition of Yow.
“The returnees have really moved to another level. They are really setting a standard in practice and in games. That is what we really need this time of season,” Glance said.
“They also have extra motivation with coach Yow battling like she is battling. They see her come in, and they realize they can overcome their little aches and pains when you see [her] battling like she is. It is their last season, and they do want it to be a great season. And they are playing that way,” Glance added.
The game will also have an interesting subplot with Clemson head coach Cristy McKinney, a four-year letter-winner at N.C. State from 1976 – 1979, playing against her former coach, Yow.
With McKinney coaching against Yow, Glance said she expects the Tigers, who come into the game having lost six of their last seven games, to be ready to compete for their coach.
“Even though their record doesn’t show a lot of wins, they have been really competitive in a lot of games this season,” Glance said. “They will come in here really fired up more so than they usually are because this is their coach’s alma mater and [playing against] their coach’s coach, that gives them a lot of motivation.”
Junior guard D’Lesha Lloyd leads the Tigers in scoring with 14.7 points per game, good for ninth in the conference and in rebounding with 6.9 per contest.
Clemson comes into the game with the fifth-best scoring offense in the conference with 68.9 points per game, but the worst scoring defense in the conference, allowing 73.3 points per contest.
Glance said the key to the game for State will be its ability to continue to play the effective defense that the team has played so far this season.
“Stopping them in transition and penetration is key for us,” Glance said. “They are very guard-oriented, and they want to push the ball and catch it and penetrate. We have to contain the transition.”
State might be playing without freshman guard Amber White, who did not play Monday against Florida State because of an injury sustained during practice. White had career-highs in points with 14 and rebounds, with eight against Wake Forest two games ago.
White’s playing condition will be evaluated today before game time.
With a game next week at Georgia Tech, which beat Maryland in Atlanta earlier this season, and a home game against rival North Carolina, it might seem that the Pack could overlook the Tigers. But Glance assured that wasn’t the case.
With the six seniors, Glance said the team is taking every game like it was its last.
“They know what our ultimate goals are at the end of the season,” Glance said. “The seniors really have an understanding of how important each game is for seeding in the NCAA tournament. They realized we are right here at crunch time.”
