The NC State women’s basketball team defeated Tulane 79-55 Sunday afternoon in Reynolds Coliseum thanks to strong play down low from the Pack.
The Pack (7-2) dominated the paint against the Green Wave (4-4) and rode that advantage to victory. State outscored Tulane 32-10 in the paint and had a 42-24 rebounding edge. The Pack turned 20 offensive rebounds into 23 second-chance points.
“They adjusted to our guards,” senior forward Chelsea Nelson said. “They penetrated well and taking everybody off the dribble so it makes it easier for us to score when they are in a zone.”
State only led 22-17 after the first quarter, but picked up its defense the rest of the afternoon to cruise to victory. The Pack dominated the second and third quarters and coasted home in the fourth.
Sophomore guard Aislinn Konig led the NC State attack from 3-point range. She tied her career-high with six 3-pointers made. She also scored a season-high 22 points. As a team, State shot 10 for 25 from 3-point range
“It’s always good to hit threes when somebody’s in a zone because it opens up the middle and Chelsea and (senior center) Akela (Maize) get to go to work,” Konig said. “We are a team that says ‘shoot when you are open’ and I shot when I was open.”
Redshirt junior guard Kiara Leslie got her first start this season and continued her solid play with 14 points and nine rebounds. Twelve of her points came in the first half to help State build its lead. Nelson scored 16 points to go along with eight rebounds.
Maize chipped in 12 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Lucky Rudd became the fifth Pack player in double digits. She hit three 3-pointers in the final quarter and scored 10 points.
Tulane guard Kolby Morgan came into the game averaging 22.7 points per game for the Green Wave, 13th in the country. She scored 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, and 3 of 7 from 3-point range, spending a lot of the game being guarded by Pack redshirt sophomore guard Kaila Ealey.
“Great player,” head coach Wes Moore said. “Shooting 47 percent from 3 coming into this game and I thought we did a pretty decent job on her. The second half we had Ealey on her and I thought she did a really good job defending her, but it’s a team effort on somebody like that. She still got 20 points, it isn’t like we shut her down, but at least we kept her below her average.”
The Pack will take the week off for exams and return to action Sunday in Reynolds Coliseum against the Georgetown Hoyas.
“It’s nice to take the break with a good taste in your mouth,” Moore said.
