The women’s basketball team stayed within armís length of the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils, but lost 61-58 in overtime. It was the second time in eight days that the Pack lost in overtime to a top-5 opponent.
“I thought we gave a tremendous effort,” interim head coach Stephanie Glance said. “To battle like we battled, to be shorthanded once again — it’s just such a credit to this team.”
Senior Shayla Fields finished the game with 20 points and junior Nikitta Gartrell with 14 points. Glance added that Gartrell did an “unbelievable job” defending Duke’s Abby Waner, holding the sharpshooter to only two 3-pointers.
“We really tried to stop Fields, but we did not do that,” Duke head coach Joanne McCallie said. “She and Gartrell created a lot of problems for us.”
Sharnise Beal, who is averaging 11.2 points per game, exited Sunday’s matchup after playing only nine minutes. Beal reportedly hit the back of her head on the knee of a photographer while diving for the ball.
“The team doctor was working with her, and at first we thought we might get her back at half time,” Glance said. “She’s starting to show signs of a potential concussion, so [the trainer] could not allow her to play.”
State crushed Duke early, jumping out to a 23-12 lead shortly after the midway point of the first half. With Beal out, sophomore Brittany Strachan logged 30 minutes of playing time.
“We were attacking, and we got a lot of their key players in foul trouble early,” Fields said. “We were taking good shots and hitting them.”
It was Mascot Day at Reynolds Coliseum, and the Carolina Panthers’ Sir Purr, Durham Bulls’ Wool E. Bull, N.C. State’s Mr. and Mrs. Wuf, Carolina Mudcats’ Mudcat, and Carolina Hurricanes’ Stormy, among others, participated in a halftime game. There was little dribbling or skill involved, but Mr. Wuf managed to score one of two baskets in the game.
Duke overwhelmed State at the start of the second half. State did not score in first nine minutes, and watched its nine-point lead evaporate quickly. Fields sank a jump shot with 30 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
The Pack went to overtime Jan. 11 against UNC-Chapel Hill and didn’t score until there was a minute left, but State was not about to make the same mistakes. The team never trailed by more than five in overtime, and Gartrellís basket with 19 seconds left in the game brought the team within three.
However, Strachan’s 3-pointer went wide and State left the court with the same result as last Sunday — so close to catching a top-ranked team but not quite there.
“We’ve stayed in both games against Carolina and Duke and we’ve been given a chance to win,” Glance said. “You can flip a few things on the scoresheet, but our defense is the constant, and thatís very encouraging.”
Chante Black led the Blue Devils in most major categories, totaling 17 points and 17 rebounds.
Glance said she was not disappointed with her team’s effort. She said the selfless play of Gartrell, Fields and their teammates may be the “trademark of the team.”
“They give of themselves just like Coach Yow, who has spent a lifetime giving,” Glance said.