Class was in session Tuesday morning as the NC State women’s basketball team took down Maine 62-34 in front of the nearly full Reynolds Coliseum packed with elementary students from across Wake County for Education day.
“It was amazing,” said sophomore center Elissa Cunane. “At one point, they were doing the NC State cheer and I couldn’t even hear [freshman forward Jada Boyd] talking beside me. Before the game, I was thinking about how we were those kids at one point watching these great players play. We’re playing and everything we do those kids are watching, and they’re going to watch what we do and they’re going to want to do that. I think it’s a very important game and I think it’s very cool that the way NC State women’s basketball represents our school and us as individuals, so I’m glad they got to come to see it.”
Cunane and Boyd were the Wolfpack’s (4-0) main instructors on the day as the pair put on a clinic against the Black Bears (1-3).
Cunane ended the first half with 10 points and she was just three rebounds shy of a first-half double-double. She eventually got her double-double and ended the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Boyd was equally, if not more, impressive than Cunane on the day as the forward finished just two points shy of a double-double and ended the game with eight points and game highs in rebounds (16) and blocks (three). She also added three assists and a steal.
“She definitely can go get [rebounds],” said head coach Wes Moore. “I mean there was a couple in there she went and got that I thought she was above the rim. She was going up where not many people can go get them so that’s exciting. Could have had a double-double. Obviously, 16 rebounds is pretty amazing, could have had a double-double if she hit those two free throws.”
The first quarter of the game was a nearly perfect defensive showing from the Pack as it forced Maine into a number of prayers from beyond the arc and shot-clock violations early in the quarter.
“We did a great job, don’t get me wrong,” Moore said. “I thought we were really locked in on what people did well for them and tried to take those things away, but I think they contributed to it. I think their strategy coming into this game was to try to run the clock down, lessen the possessions and keep the score down, which obviously we only scored 62 points so I think they were purposely tried to run the clock down some so that they can limit possessions. but at the same time give our kids credit. I thought they did a nice job.”
While the Wolfpack started the game strong defensively it took a bit of time for the offense to start firing at all cylinders, but once warm, the Wolfpack pulled away and never looked back. The first quarter ended with the Pack leading by just eight but by the half, the Pack had pushed its advantage to 21.
The third quarter was more of the same as the Pack’s advantage grew to 28 entering the fourth quarter. Cunane cooled off after her flaming first half, but other players stepped up to keep the scoring going.
Junior guard Kai Crutchfield and senior guard Aislinn “Ace” Konig both did not score in the first quarter, but the pair combined for 17 points in second and third quarters combined. All of Konig’s points came from beyond the arc as the sharpshooter went 3 of 4 from deep in the second and third quarters.
“I think it was good for Ace to see a couple of shots go down,” Moore said. “Probably good for her and good for me, for her to hit some 3’s, especially as we get ready to go on the road.”
The fourth quarter was a battle against the history books as the Pack strove to beat the record for the fewest points allowed in a game under Moore (31 against South Alabama on Dec. 19, 2016). The Wolfpack ended up coming within a minute of equalling the record but a 3-pointer with 47.7 seconds left from Maine’s Sierra Tapley ended the Pack’s hopes of doing so.
The Wolfpack will be back in action on Sunday as it travels out West to face Saint Mary’s at 5 p.m. Following Saint Mary’s, the Pack will head out even further west to play three games in three days out in Hawaii.
“Saint Mary’s has been consistently in the top 50 in the country based on RPI,” Moore said. “It’s going to be some of these kids first time to play in a hostile environment. So that’s going to be a challenge. Then we got Texas in our first game in Hawaii. Top-25 program. And then, Hawaii on their home court is never easy. Then North Texas to wrap that trip up. Three games in three days, it’s gonna be a big test for us.”
Freshman center Elissa Cunane goes up for an early basket. Cunane eight of the Pack's first 10 points and led the team with 22. The Wolfpack were able to hold off a late surge for a 69-62 win over Florida State to move to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro Coliseum on Friday, March 8.
