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NC State Falls to Iowa 79-61 in Sweet 16

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5 years ago

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#2 seed Iowa defeated the #3 seed NC State 79-61 today in the Sweet 16.

It simply wasn’t the Wolfpack’s day.

They couldn’t find a rhythm shooting the ball (34.8% FG), and they definitely couldn’t find a way to disrupt Iowa’s rhythm on offense (54.4%).

NC State specifically didn’t have an answer for National Player of the Year Megan Gustafson, who finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds. As silly as that stat line is, it’s actually below her season average (28 & 13.5).

The Wolfpack went into halftime with a 13-point deficit looming over their heads, but with 4:43 left in the 3rd Quarter, Kai Crutchfield could have hit a layup to make it a 3-point game. Unfortunately she missed the gimme, and the Hawkeyes ran down the court and hit a three, making it a 8-point lead.

NC State wouldn’t get that close again.

Redshirt Graduate Senior Kiara Leslie finished with 16 points (6-18) and 9 rebounds. Freshman Elissa Cunane had 14 points (6-19) and 11 rebounds. Senior DD Rogers had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Junior Aislinn Konig had 10 points (2-4 3PT) and 5 assists.

No one wants to lose in the NCAA Tournament, but the Wolfpack have every reason to hold their head high. On paper, they should have never made it this far. NC State lost 4 players to season-ending injuries, and 3 of them were starters.

Despite the odds being never in their favor, the Wolfpack won 28 games, which is tied for the 2nd most in school history. They made it to the Sweet 16 for the 13th time in school history.

It would have been easy for this team’s morale and confidence to have crumbled at many points this season, but these ladies were resilient, and someone was always ready to be the next woman up.

8 coaches will lead their team to the Elite 8, and 1 of them will win the National Championship, but I don’t believe any of them did anything as impressive as what Wes Moore did in 2018-19.

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Casey Morsell is the 4th Player in NCAA History to Start 41 Games in a Season

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4 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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NC State Guard Casey Morsell started 41 games for the Wolfpack this season, becoming the 4th player in NCAA history to do so.

 

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Prior to this season, the record for most games started in a single season in NC State history was 37, with three Wolfpack players doing so: Lorenzo Brown, Richard Howell, CJ Williams.

Morsell now sits atop the list, and a fellow teammate, DJ Burns ranks second, with 40 games started this season.

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NC State Basketball

Georgetown Transfer Dontrez Styles Commits to NC State!

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15 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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Georgetown Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles (6’6″/212) has committed to NC State!

Styles was the 2nd leading scorer for Georgetown this season, averaging 12.8 points per game, while grabbing 5.8 boards. He shot 36.8% from three.

Originally, Sytles was a consensus 4-Star prospect in UNC’s 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina, playing for Kinston High School.

After two seasons with the Tar Heels, Styles entered the Portal, and took an Official Visit to NC State and Georgetown, and ultimately chose the Hoyas.

ON3 ranks Styles as the #104 overall player in the Portal.

With his final year of eligibility, Styles’ made the right choice this time.

NC State now has 2 scholarships remaining after Styles’ commitment.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Katie Peneueta Enters the Transfer Portal

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2 days ago

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April 17, 2024

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NC State Forward Katie Peneueta is entering the Transfer Portal.

Peneueta transferred to NC State last offseason from Sacramento State, where she averaged 8.4 points, shooting 45.5% from three.

In her one year at NC State, Peneueta only played 8 games for the Wolfpack, battling injuries throughout the year. Peneueta has 1 year of eligibility.

With Peneueta entering the Portal, NC State now has 3 scholarships available heading into the 2024-25 season.

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NC State Basketball

Boston Center Caitlin Weimar is on an Official Visit to NC State

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2 days ago

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April 17, 2024

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Boston Transfer Center Caitlin Weimar (6’4″) is currently on an Official Visit to NC State.

Weimar is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, and has been named Defensive Player of the Year the past two years. She has earned 1st Team Patriot League Honors the past two seasons.

This year, Weimar averaged 18.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. As a Junior, she averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. She shot 55.5% this year, and 59.7% last year.

With NC State not having River Baldwin at Center next year, adding Weimar is an extremely exciting possibility.

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