With its offense and defense failing to click throughout the night Monday, the women’s basketball team fell 74-57 to No. 10 North Carolina in the teams’ final regular season matchup of the season.
“Any time you come to Reynolds and win, that’s big, it doesn’t matter records or standings,” UNC head coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “N.C. State has been playing really well.”
The last time these two teams faced each other at the Dean Dome, the Wolfpack took the then No. 2 Tar Heels to overtime but eventually fell 75-66 in their first game without Kay Yow on the bench. This time, the Heels’ ranking had fallen to No. 10, but the game was nowhere near that close.
Glance receives Hatchell’s seal of approval
In the post-game press conference, UNC head coach Sylvia Hatchell began her commentary by singing the praises of interim head coach Stephanie Glance.
“N.C. State has been playing really, really well. Stephanie [Glance] has done a great job with this team. They’re very organized and playing hard. I give my full endorsement, not that it means anything. I think that they need to go ahead and make her the coach because there’s no doubt she deserves it. She’s doing a great job with this team. I know that that’s what Kay wanted, so I’m hoping that will happen.”
Glance respectfully acknowledged Hatchell’s endorsement, but humbly shied away from any attention.
“I appreciate her support, but my focus is on this group of people,” Glance said.
By the Numbers
6,107 – Fans in attendance
33 – Seconds that UNC was not in the lead.
21 – Offensive rebounds won by State, compared to Carolina’s 9 off the boards
15 – Team leading point total by freshman Bonae Holston
0 – Three point baskets made by State out of six attempts
Sights & SoundsRuby Red Rock
For a good portion of basketball season, Mrs. Wuf has been spotted with no ring on her paw, notably during Mr. Wuf’s absence from the home court. But perhaps the two are back together after a trial separation, as Mrs. Wuf was once again seen donning a humongous ruby red ring.
She can play
Nashville singer/songwriter Damien Horne was recognized during a media timeout. Horne wrote and composed “She Can Play,” the ACC’s first-ever theme song for women’s basketball
Loud high-pitched noises
The Pack welcomed women’s basketball’s key outreach program, Girls and Women in Sports (G-WIS), to Reynolds. Hundreds of elementary school girls cheered from the stands, and some took part in a halftime shooting contest.
Gross
Mrs. Wuf had a Carolina Blue sign that read “Gross” in large print with a moveable arrow, which she directed towards Carolina fans. She was repeatedly seen harassing unsuspecting Carolina alumni.
Tar Heel Talk
In the dwindling minutes of the second half, the baby-blue clad cluster known as Carolina Fever began cheering “Whose house? Heels house!” as well as the oh-so-original “Start your tractors” chant. The normally raucous student section offered no rebuttal to the noise as the clock expired.
-Compiled by Lindsey Hall
“Carolina did what they do best – they’re going to run on you,” Interim head coach Stephanie Glance said. “Our transition defense was not what it needed to be.”
The Tar Heels jumped to an early 10-2 lead and never relinquished it. The Pack could not buy a shot in the first half, going 10-39 from the field.
“We got the shots we wanted and the looks we wanted but we just couldn’t hit,” Glance said. “The more we forced, the more we missed, and it sort of snowballed on us.”
Senior guard Shayla Fields said the team’s offensive woes affected its defense as well.
“I think us missing shots in the offensive end messed up our defense a little bit,” Fields said. “We weren’t as active or aggressive as we needed to be.”
Meanwhile, Carolina seemed to hit every basket it attempted, shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. The Pack was also plagued by fouls, sending the Tar Heels to the line nine times in the first half compared to just two trips to the charity stripe for State.
“We fouled the shooter far too many times,” Glance said. “We were a step behind all night long.”
On offense, the Pack was pushed out and forced to attempt shots from outside, but it couldn’t convert there either. The team combined for two 3-pointers in the first half and none at all in the second.
State out-rebounded Carolina on the offensive end and committed only eight turnovers against a ranked team. Sophomore forward Tia Bell, who led the team with 10 rebounds, said her team was proud of how it rebounded Monday night.
“UNC is a great offensive rebounding team, one of the top in the country, so to say we outrebounded them on the offensive end is a good start,” Bell said.
In addition, Carolina brought out the best in freshman Bonae Holston, again. Holston led the team with 19 points the last time State faced Carolina, and she finished with a team-high 15 points in the teams’ second meeting.
The Pack’s defense struggled to legally contain Carolina’s offense in the second half. Cetera DeGraffenreid – whom Hatchell called UNC’s “little quarterback” – went to the line repeatedly and hit 12 of 13 free throw attempts.
“We usually play really good defense,” Glance said. “We get to the ball early and we’re able to slow it down. Tonight was disappointing for us.”
State will host its last home game against Clemson on Thursday night before taking part in ACC Tournament play next week. Glance said her team will shore up its defensive play in preparation for the Tigers.
“They take pride in their defense,” Glance said as Fields and Bell nodded in support. “Defensively we sort of settled, and that’s a little disappointing for us. Defense is our bread and butter, and we get a lot of offense that way.”
