Wake Forest @ #9 NC State

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NC State (16-1, 5-1 ACC) completes a two-game home stand by hosting long-time ACC foe Wake Forest (11-6, 4-2 ACC) at 2 pm. The game is broadcast on some of the Fox Sports Networks; here in SC, the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports South.

Next to Georgia Tech, Wake Forest has been the most surprising (in a positive way) team in the conference this season. Picked to finish dead last in the pre-season poll, Wake Forest is currently tied with UNC for 4th place. The Demon Deacons are, for the first time in a long time, healthy. They rank 11th nationally in rebound margin and are led by Ivanca Raca, averaging 16.5 points per game.

Wake's ACC wins so far this season have been against Duke, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Virginia; their losses have been to Miami (3 points) and Louisville (14 points).

Today's matchup is the 87th meeting between the two teams. NC State leads the series 72-14, and has won 4 in a row in the series. Wake's last victory against NC State was in Raleigh in 2017. NC State is 38-5 against Wake Forest in games played in Raleigh.

 

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NC State leads 9-7, 4:55 left 1st quarter. NC State 3 of 7 from the floor, including 2-2 from THREE. Wake is 2 of 6 from the field.

Ace Konig, Erika Cassell and Kayla Jones have all the points for NC State, with 3 each. Alex Sharpe leads Wake with 3 points.

 

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End of 1st quarter...NC State leading, 18-16. NC State was 6 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 5 from THREE. Wake Forest was 6 of 17, 2 of 6 from long range.

NC State is led in scoring by Jakia Brown-Turner, with 5 points. Ivanca Raca and Alex Sharpe have 5 each for Wake Forest.

Wake outrebounding NC State, 11-9, in a battle of the conference's top two rebounding teams.

 

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4:51 left 2nd quarter...NC State holding a 20-18 lead. No FG in this quarter for the Pack.

 

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NC State on a 9-0 run...29-20, NC State leads. 1:44 left 2nd quarter.

 

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Halftime: NC State leads Wake, 31-26. Wake finished the quarter on a 5-0 run, following an 11-0 run by NC State.

NC State was 11 of 29 from the field, 4 of 8 from THREE and made 5 of 6 FT attempts. Wake Forest was 9 of 35 from the field, 3 of 11 from THREE and was 5 of 6 from the charity stripe.

NC State was led in scoring by Jakia Brown-Turner with 9 points, Ace Konig had 6 and Kayla Jones contributed 5 points. Leading scorer Elissa Cunane, averaging 17.4 points per game, was held to 2 points in just 5 minutes of action.

Wake Forest was led by Ivana Raca with 10 points, and Alex Sharpe had 7.

Wake is outrebounding NC State, 24-22. Kayla Jones has 6 boards for NC State; Raca has 6 for Wake Forest.

NC State recorded 8 turnovers; Wake turned the ball over 6 times.

 

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9-0 run for Wake Forest...Wake now leads, 35-33.

 

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4:32 left 3rd quarter...35-35 game. Cunane just having an off day but she's fighting.

 

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NC State on a 7-0 run, anchored by an Elissa Cunane THREE. 42-35, Pack. Timeout Wake Forest.

 

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End of 3 quarters...NC State ahead, 44-37. NC State finished the quarter on an 11-2 run.

 

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4:50 left...NC State leading 53-41. Jakia Brown-Turner, Kayla Jones and Elissa Cunane have reached double figures for NC State. Ivana Raca has 14 for Wake Forest.

NC State now leading in the rebounding battle, 43-39.

 

[Centerstream]

59-45, State.
The Wake coach had the best blow by congratulatory handshake that I have seen in a while.

 

[LETTERL]

Final: NC State beats Wake Forest, 59-45. NC State is now 17-1, 6-1 ACC. Wake Forest falls to 11-7, 4-3 ACC.

In an ugly game for both teams, NC State shot 32.3% on 21 of 65 shooting, including 5 of 13 from THREE. NC State was 12 of 15 from the charity stripe.

Wake Forest shot even worse, 25% on 16 of 63 shooting, including 4 of 16 from THREE, and was 9 of 13 from the FT line.

NC State was led in scoring by Kayla Jones, who finished with 15 points and also grabbed 11 boards for her 4th doube double of the season. Jones was joined in double-figures by Jakia Brown-Turner with 11 points and Elissa Cunane did reach double figures with 10 points, after having only 2 points at halftime. Cunane's only made FG of the day was a THREE; she was 0-6 from near the basket.

Wake Forest was led in scoring by Ivana Raca, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Sharpe and Gina Conti each had 9 points.

NC State emerged as the dominant team on the boards, 49-45. Jada Boyd also had 11 rebounds for NC State.

The Wolfpack Women turned the ball over 13 times; Wake Forest had 15 turnovers.

NC State led in points in the paint, 32-20.

Up next: NC State visit Pittsburgh Thursday night, while Wake Forest hosts Florida State Thursday evening.