The NC State women’s basketball team dominated UNC-Pembroke 96-41 in exhibition game at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Wolfpack jumped out of the gates as it started the game off on a 20-5 run. Hustle was at the core of the Pack’s early play as it dove for loose balls and crashed the boards.
“We got off to a really good start, shot the ball well,” head Wes Moore said. “We got a lot of things to work on still, but it’s good to be back out there.”
At the close of the first quarter the Pack lead the Braves 27-8. Senior forward Jennifer Mathurin caught fire quick with scoring eight points and tallying four rebounds. Spencer and freshman guard Aislinn Konig led the defensive attack tallying two steals a piece.
The Braves struggled through the first quarter with only shooting 20 percent from the field. They were not controlling the ball well which led to seven turnovers. State capitalized off those turnovers by adding 14 points to the scoreboard.
Wolfpack controlled all of the first half with the score being 43-17 going into halftime. Mathurin continued to dominate by tallying 13 points, six rebounds and two assists.
The Braves could never get into a groove as they shot 26.9 percent from the field, only making one 3-pointer in 11 tries. The Braves totaled 17 turnovers in the first half and were held to under 10 points a quarter in the half.
Entering into the second half, the Pack did not stop attacking, scoring 30 points in the quarter and shooting 3-4 from behind the arc. As a team, the Pack tallied five assists, one block and two steals in the third quarter.
Freshman guard Luky Rudd and redshirt freshman guard Kaila Ealey combined for 12 points in the third to help lead the offensive charge for the Pack. Rudd also went 3 for 3 at the free throw line in the quarter.
Rudd continued her hot streak into the last quarter of play, dropping two threes along with two steals. Rudd finished the game scoring 12 points, which was the second highest on the team, three steals and an assist in her first collegiate game.
“Lucky came in her and we knew she was a shooter,” Mathurin said. “Tonight I feel like she wasn’t afraid to shoot the ball, she got a couple of steals and did good on defense.”
Mathurin stayed hot the entire game, shooting over 50 percent from the field. Mathurin tallied 16 points, six rebounds and three assists with no turnovers.
“Jenn is a very good three point shooter,” Moore said. “I was more pleased with the time or two she put the ball on the floor and made good decisions.”
The Pack looks to continue its momentum into the regular season opener Nov. 12 against Stafford at Reynolds Coliseum.
