The No. 6-seeded NC State women’s basketball team defeated No. 11-seeded Auburn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 62-48, on Friday in Texas. Auburn’s 48 points is the fewest points allowed by NC State in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
The Wolfpack (23-8, 12-4 ACC) secured the win and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers (17-15, 7-9 SEC) could not keep up with the Wolfpack despite causing some early mishaps for State. Redshirt senior guard Dominique Wilson led the way for the Pack as she tallied 23 points, five rebounds, one steal and one assist.
Auburn opened the game with a full-court press as soon as the Wolfpack won the tip-off. The Pack struggled to handle the press early on, as it turned the ball over on its first two possessions in under one minute. Despite having two turnovers early in the game, the Pack went on a 6-0 run to take an early 6-2 lead.
The Tigers made a slight comeback to get within two before the first timeout; the Pack led, 11-9. After the timeout, the Wolfpack strung together a couple of baskets and free throws and went on a 7-0 run to increase the lead, 18-9.
Senior guard Miah Spencer led the way for the Pack, as she hit a 3-pointer to end the first quarter to give NC State a 10-point lead, 21-11. In the first, Spencer converted 4 of 4 from the charity stripe to go with her clutch shot from behind the arc.
The Wolfpack brought its momentum into the second quarter as it went on a 9-2 run to increase its lead to 17 points. Wilson led the way during the run, adding five points to her totals to give her 12 points midway through the second quarter.
NC State’s defense was outstanding in the second, as Auburn only scored four points. The Pack held onto its huge lead going into halftime, 32-15.
Wilson led the way for the Pack in the first half as she tallied 14 points on 2 of 5 from behind the arc and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Spencer tallied an overall effective stat line of seven points, five rebounds and two assists in the first half.
Junior forward Chelsea Nelson opened up the third quarter with two back-to-back inside buckets to give the Pack a 36-15 lead before Auburn called the first timeout of the second half.
The Tigers were able to regain the momentum they had early in the first as they forced the Pack to make two turnovers and went on a 6-0 run. Despite the run, the Pack still had a huge lead, 41-23.
Wilson and Spencer continued to show senior leadership in the third quarter, as they combined to score 11 of State’s 17 third-quarter points. Spencer ended the quarter with an and-1 double-clutch layup and made the free throw to give the Pack 43-29 a lead.
The Wolfpack defense held the Tigers to only eight points in the third. Through three quarters, the Tigers were shooting 18 percent from the field and just seven percent from the 3-point line.
The Pack ran into a little trouble around the halfway mark in the fourth when the freshmen came into the game. Auburn went on a 9-0 run to decrease the lead, 56-38. However, State held onto its lead and won the game, 62-48.
The Wolfpack was perfect from the free throw line as it went 15-of-15 for the game. Spencer filled the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. All 13 players for the Pack saw playing time.
The Tigers just could not find their groove as they shot 25 percent from the field and went 2 of 17 from behind the arc. Sophomore guard Janiah McKay led the way for the Tigers with 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
The Wolfpack advances to the round of 32 and will play the winners of No. 3-seeded Texas and No. 14-seeded Central Arkansas Sunday.
