Women's Basketball
NC State Women’s Basketball Loading Up on Preseason Honors
A day after being nationally ranked 5th, State women’s basketball added onto the hype train with a handful ACC preseason honors.
NC State Picked to Finish First
This is a big deal, because while they’ve won the conference the last two seasons, Louisville and Notre Dame have claimed the top spot in recent memory. And the votes weren’t close.
State took home 89% of first place votes, between media and head coaches. Does this mean they automatically win the ACC? No, but at least they’ve cracked through another level of media and national perception.
Cunane Preseason Player of the Year
After a year of getting national accolades from the AP, ESPN and USBWA, Cunane adds to the collection with a Preseason Player of the Year award. What’s scary for the ACC, and nation for that matter, is Cunane actually had the slightest of dips in rebounding performance last year. She could find herself in the season-long double-double conversation if she get into a defensive groove. 17 points, 10 rebs, 2 ast performer? Oh my…
Brown-Turner and Johnson Also Rewarded
Brown-Turner made both media and head coaches Preseason All-ACC Team. The junior added four points and two rebounds to her game average, and that should only continue to go up. Her run from February through end of season was fantastic.
Diamond Johnson, the recent transfer from Rutgers, was named to both media and head coaches Newcomer Watch List. Johnson was Big Ten All-Freshman and Second Team All-B10 last season. Through 19 games, she started 15 as a true freshman, averaging an unreal 17.6 points, 4.3 rebs and 2.5 in both assists and steals. Did we mention this team has weapons?
State opens their season on November 3rd versus UNC-Pembroke before a monster meeting with South Carolina on November 9th.
The NC State women were a 7 seed, picked to move on over 10-seeded Princeton, but that’s not how it worked out.
The Pack women were plagued by turnovers (20) and Princeton capitalized with a late 3 to clinch the win. Highlight above.
Sad day for NC State all around.
The NC State Women’s Basketball (16-5) team moved up 5 spots in the Week 13 AP Poll, after defeating Notre Dame 69-65 yesterday, who was ranked 7th then, and ranked 9th now.
(ESPN)
ACC Teams in the Week 13 AP Poll
9. Notre Dame
11. UNC
13. Virginia Tech
15. NC State
16. Duke
23. FSU
The Wolfpack’s next game will be on Thursday night on the road at Georgia Tech at 8pm on ACC Network.
#20 NC State picked up a much needed win last night against Miami, defeating the Hurricanes 71-61 in PNC Arena, avoiding a 3-game skid.
Sophomore Guard Saniya Rivers led the pack with 14 points, 6 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
As long as she keeps working, @PackWomensBball Saniya Rivers ( @Ihoop___22 ) is going to be a really fun @wnba player to cover in a few years.
(Until then, I’ll enjoy watching her, @haileyvanlith , NC State & @LouisvilleWBB on ABC Sunday at 1pm et.)— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) January 19, 2023
Seniors Camille Hobby and Mimi Collins both had 11 points.
Sophomore Guard Aziaha James had 10 points, and led the Pack with 6 rebounds.
The Wolfpack was without Jada Boyd and Jessica Timmons last night, and River Baldwin went down with an injury, and will have an MRI tomorrow.
NC State is now 14-5 overall, and 4-4 in ACC play, and will play at Louisville on Sunday at 1pm on ABC.