#7 NC State @ Virginia Tech -- 02/06/20

[LETTERL]

#7 NC State (21-1, 10-1 ACC) concludes a three-game road swing tonight in Blacksburg, Virginia, taking on the host Virginia Tech Hokies (16-5, 6-4 ACC). Game time is 7 pm. The game is not televised but is available via ACC Network Extra.

NC State enters the game on a 7-game win streak since its lone loss of the season. In its last outing, the Wolfpack Women overcame a 10-point 3rd-quarter deficit and edged Duke, 63-60. Elissa Cunane had a monster game with 27 points, and third in scoring in the Duke contest was Grace Hunter, who nailed three big THREEs in the fourth quarter to push the Wolfpack Women ahead for good. It was a full circle for Hunter, who was on her way to a great game last season against Duke when she tore her ACL in the second quarter and was lost for the season. A Hollywood scriptwriter could not have come up with a more implausible scenario!

Virginia Tech enters the game coming off a 69-45 victory over Miami. The Gobblers are tied with NC State, Drake and Belmont for third-longest home winning streak in the nation, at 16 games.

Tonight's meeting is the 23rd in the series, with NC State holding a 21-1 lead. Virginia Tech's lone win in this series came in the opening round of the 2015 ACC Tournament. The two teams met earlier this season, with NC State overcoming its largest deficit of the season (14 points) to slip by Virginia Tech, 76-69, on January 2nd. In NC State's last visit to Blacksburg, the Wolfpack Women emerged victorious, 68-51.

 

[Plebe]

This is another huge game with NCAA tournament implications. Virginia Tech has a solid RPI in the mid-30s but very little in terms of resume quality to show for it. Their best win is over Purdue. A win over NC State would seal their spot in the NCAAs.

For the Wolfpack, they need this win to stay on the 2 line and stay in the running for the ACC regular season title. After this game, they'll have a week off before the decisive showdown with Louisville next Thursday.

 

[DefenseBB]

Say it with me and @triaddukefan folks, VPI, VPI, VPI....

Though to be fair, I am actually an NC State fan, I just wanted to let Triad know I was thinking of my illustrious colleague...

 

[LETTERL]

4:40 left 1st quarter...NC State with a 9-6 lead. Good battle inside between Cunane and Kitley.

 

[LETTERL]

End of 1st quarter...NC State leads VIrginia Tech, 15-10. NC State was 6 of 14 from the field; VT was 3 of 15. Each team hit one THREE. NC State outrebounding the Hokies, 12-9.

Leading scorer for NC State is Jakia Brown-Turner with 6 points; Taja Cole has 7 for VT. Elissa Cunane has 6 boards for NC State,

 

[LETTERL]

Jada Boyd gives NC State a 26-14 lead...timeout Virginia Tech, 4:25 left 2nd quarter. NC State on a 9-2 run.

 

[LETTERL]

Halftime: NC State leads, 28-17. Terrible shooting night for both teams; NC State shooting 35.5% on 11 of 31 from the field, including 2 of 10 from THREE. Virginia Tech finished shooting 20% on 6 of 30 shooting, and went nearly 6 minutes in the 2nd quarter without scoring.

In a battle of the two best rebounding teams in the ACC, NC State has the advantage on the boards, 25-19. NC State with 6 offensive rebounds, leading to 7 second-chance points; VaTech has 5 offensive rebounds, leading to 2 second-chance points. ELissa Cunane with 11 rebounds already for the Wolfpack Women.

The leading scorers for NC State were Jakia Brown-Turner and Ace Konig with 6 points each; Elissa Cunane and Jada Boyd with 4 each. Va Tech has 10 points from Taja Cole; no other Hokie has more than 3 points.

NC State leads in points in the paint, 14-6.

Foul trouble looms for VaTech in the second half in attempts to stop Cunane, with the two main post players for the Hokies each with 2 fouls.

 

[triaddukefan]

Guess its too late to change my vote

 

[LETTERL]

4:27 left 3rd quarter...NC State leads 37-28. VT to the line for two shots when play resumes. Virginia Tech hit nearly as many shots in the first 5:33 of the 3rd quarter than they did in all of the first half.

Elissa Cunane with 9 points and 14 rebounds forNC State; Jakia Brown Turner with 8 points. Taja Cole leading all scorers with 17 points for Virginia Tech.

 

[LETTERL]

End of 3rd quarter...NC State holding on to a 45-39 lead, after Virginia Tech got within 1 point at 40-39. Elissa Cunane with 11 points and 15 rebounds for NC State; Taja Cole with 17 points for the Hokies.

NC State holding on to a 33-30 rebounding advantage.

0

 

[LETTERL]

4 fouls now on Alex Obouh Fegue. 3:54 left, NC State leads 55-48.

Elissa Cunane with 13 points and 16 rebounds; Jada Boyd also has 10 points for NC State. Taja Cole with 17 and Dana Mabrey with 12 for the Hokies.

 

[Plebe]

Something weird with the broadcast I'm getting, the audio drops out about every 30-45 seconds and it's just not smooth.

 

[triaddukefan]

Something weird with the broadcast I'm getting, the audio drops out about every 30-45 seconds and it's just not smooth.

Yeah... its kinda like how you are watching a live sports game.... and they have no sound for a few seconds when some expletives start flying on the court/field.

 

[LETTERL]

Timeout Virginia Tech...1:45 left. NC State ahead 64-54.

 

[LETTERL]

Something weird with the broadcast I'm getting, the audio drops out about every 30-45 seconds and it's just not smooth.

Same thing happening on my stream.

 

[LETTERL]

Final: NC State runs its record to 22-1, 11-1 ACC with a 72-59 win over Virginia Tech, ending Virginia Tech's home winning streak at 16 games. The Hokies fall to 16-6, 6-5 ACC.

In a game in which both teams struggled to make shots, NC State shot 40% on 22 of 55 from the field, including just 4 of 15 from THREE and was 23 of 28 from the FT line. Virginia Tech shot 30.3% on 20 of 66 from the field, including 5 of 19 from THREE and was 14 of 19 from the FT line.

For NC State, the leading scorer was Elissa Cunane, who finished with 17 points, and 16 rebounds. Joining her in double figures were Ace Konig and Jakia Brown-Turner (11 points each) and Jada Boyd with 10 points. Kai Crutchfield finished with 9 points, and Kayla Jones 7. Brown-Turner added 7 rebounds.

For Virginia Tech, the leading scorer was Taja Cole, who finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds. Dana Mabrey added 15 points and Aisha Sheppard 10. The leading rebounder for the Hokies was Lydia Rivers with 10.

Both teams grabbed 41 rebounds. NC State led in points in the paint 32-20.

Up next: NC State is the final ACC team to have a bye; their next game is the highly-anticipated showdown with Louisville next Thursday night in Reynolds Coliseum. Virginia Tech visits North Carolina Sunday.