With only 48 hours to rest and prepare, N.C. State will play Winthrop tonight at Reynolds Coliseum after playing Temple on Saturday afternoon.

Winthrop comes into the game on a four-game losing streak, with its latest loss coming to Wofford 77-51 on Friday.

The Eagles came into the season picked to finish third in Big South according to the preseason Big South poll, one spot behind High Point, which State already defeated this season 78-48.

Big South freshman-of-the-year winner, forward Ashley Fann leads Winthrop, averaged 10.3 points and 5.8 rebound per game.

The Pack comes into the game on a three-game winning streak, with its last loss coming at the hands of Arizona in overtime on Nov. 24.

A large part of the winning streak can be accredited to the emergence of senior forward Keisha Brown, according to interim coach Stephanie Glance.

Over the past two games Brown has averaged 12.5 points per game, including 14 points on Saturday on five of seven shooting, including four of five from the three-point line.

Glance said Brown’s versatility has provided the one thing that the team has been searching for the entire season — consistency.

“She is a great shooter. She is a great penetrator. She can hit three-point shots. She can make mid-range shots and she can penetrate,” Glance said. “She is doing a great job doing all of those things and we want her continue doing them.”

Brown said the difference in her performance can be attributed to her keeping the game simple.

“I’m just going out and having fun,” Brown said.

In the Pack’s game against Temple senior center Gillian Goring provided height and a burst of energy for State for the second time this season, as she returned from an injury two games ago.

Goring’s 6-foot-7 frame has provided State with a large presence in the paint over the past two games, but Glance said things will get better as she gets more accustomed to playing.

“She is obviously a big factor with her size,” Glance said.

“She is a force. The more used Goring gets to playing again and positioning herself to score, the better off we’re going to be. She is definitely a force on both ends of the floor. She just has to get in better shape and used to playing again.”

The Pack will see its first action from freshman center Chanita Jordan in practice this week, according to Glance. Jordan has yet to play a game in her young collegiate career because of injury.

The game against the Eagles is the third home game in a row for State and is also the third home game of a six-game home-streak.

Interim coach Stephanie Glance said the timing and value of having this home stand is invaluable to the team with the given circumstances surrounding the team.

“We are really thankful we have this year, especially under the circumstances with coach Yow not being here with us,” Glance said.

“We had to start off that absence with a road trip, but knowing that we are coming back home and that we can get some kind of stability and consistency while we are adjusting to not having coach Yow here, it is a great advantage.”

After the game against Temple, Glance and junior forward Khadijah Whittington gave an update on coach Kay Yow’s status and how the team is handling Yow’s leave of absence.

Whittington said the team has been helped by Yow being in contact with the team a few times since she began her leave of absence, and even making an appearance in person.

“She was in practice yesterday,” Whittington said. “It is just a matter of dealing with it and praying, and having faith.”

Glance said the visit from Yow at Friday’s practice was specifically special for the team because it allowed the team to physically see Yow’s condition, and also Yow to keep the team aware of her status.

“Her presence lets them see her and lets them know that she is all right,” Glance said. “She keeps them updated so that they are prepared.”

Whittington added that seeing Yow in person reassured her that Yow is still the same despite her battle with breast cancer.

“She still has that sense of humor, though,” Whittington said. “I think she is handling everything well, though. She has a positive attitude about everything.”