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NC State WBB with Monstrous Thanksgiving Day Game

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It’s 11am on Thanksgiving day. The aroma of turkey hasn’t even made it’s way throughout the house. Maybe the parade is on in the background, but folks are just hanging out waiting for arrivals.

Meanwhile, a HUGE State game is tipping off.

Thursday, #5 NC State faces #2 Maryland down in the Bahamas, as part of the Baha Mar Hoops Tourney.

 

State Finding Their Footing

Two things have become abundantly clear the last few weeks; South Carolina is legit and State has refocused.

Coming out of the loss in the season opener, State didn’t look right. They were uptight and a step behind the Gamecocks. By no means whipped off the floor, but just unable to get in a groove to make a run. South Carolina has gone on to win their next five games by an average of 25, including a 17-point win over #9 Oregon and a 16-point win over #2 UCONN. That 9-point loss don’t look too shabby, huh?

State has found their shooting touch since that South Carolina loss. Scoring an average of 91 points a game, State has rolled over their competition. Their average margin of victory over that span, is an astounding 34 points.

Offense has been everything for the Wolfpack. Cunane, Brown-Turner and Johnson all are averaging double-figures, with Perez knocking on the door at 9.8 per game. In their first five games, there has been four different leading scorers for the Pack. The same stat applies to rebounding, as well. State has out rebounded opponents by nearly 14 a game, something that was a struggle at times last season.

Granted, strength of competition hasn’t been high, but State also hasn’t messed around. Offensively they’ve been far more structured since South Carolina. They’ve also become disciplined on defense and put more focus on rebounding. When you can get category leaders each game, up and down the roster? That’s the making of a championship squad.

 

Maryland Preview

There is only one other team in the land, that without a doubt, is a top-2 team…Introducing Maryland.

The former ACC foe, enters the game 6-0, coming off a big win against #6 Baylor. For all the talk about State’s improved scoring, Maryland has been on fire. Six Terrapins are averaging double-figures for the year. Angel Reese has been most impressive, averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals a game. Outside of Sellers who’s a freshman, all other top scorers and rebounders have plenty of game time experience.

They do things right on the defensive side, as well.

A near 10 turnover and 13 rebound difference per game average over opponents. Maryland is getting over ten steals per game. They’ll give opponents points, but they by no means are they easy buckets.

 

Keys for a Wolfpack Win

  • Get Your Rebounds – And not just talking about rebounds that pop out towards the three-point line…we’re talking hard-nosed, aggressive rebounds in the paint. There have been times when Cunane hasn’t shown strength down low. When State struggles, it’s because that paint presence isn’t there. Maryland beat Baylor by outscoring them by 10 in the paint, even though they were out rebounded overall.
  • Fly Baby, Fly – State can also find a win if they can get the pace moving. Teams have success on fast breaks against Maryland. To bullet point one, rebounding and outlets are key to keep Maryland off balance. Don’t allow them to setup and apply pressure. Johnson, Perez, Brown-Turner, let it fly.
  • No Vacation, All Business – This is very “Get off my porch!” talk, but one of these teams is going to start slow with this mini vacation to the Bahamas. Totally understandable to get caught off-guard thinking about how you took a private jet to an island. Telling you right now, a win will make the experience much, much better.

Regardless of how the Maryland game goes, within a week (12/2) they’ll face undefeated and #4 ranked Indiana. Yes, that team that knocked them out of NCAA. Quite the road for the Wolfpack around the holidays. #GoPack

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Women's Basketball

VIDEO: NC State women fall 64-63 to Princeton on late three in NCAA 1st Round

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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.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: NC State Moves Up to #15 After Win Over Notre Dame

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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.

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NC State Signee Zoe Brooks is a McDonald’s All-American

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NC State Women’s Basketball 2023 signee Zoe Brooks was named a McDonald’s All-American yesterday.

McDonald’s All American Game East Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Zoe Brooks Saint John Vianney (NJ) G 5-10 NC State
Essence Cody Valdosta (GA) F 6-3 Alabama
Aalyah Del Rosario The Webb School (CA) F 6-5 LSU
Jadyn Donovan Sidwell Friends School (DC) G 6-0 Duke
Milaysia Fulwiley W.J. Keenan (SC) G 5-6 South Carolina
Hannah Hildalgo Paul VI (NJ) G 5-6 Notre Dame
Riley Nelson Bullis School (MD) W 6-0 Maryland
Courtney Ogden Westminster School (GA) W 5-11 Stanford
Laila Reynolds Shabach Christian (FL) F 6-2 Florida
Emma Risch Palm Bay Magnet (FL) G 6-1 Notre Dame
Taliah Scott Saint John’s Country Day (FL) G 5-9 Arkansas
Ashlynn Shade La Lumiere (IN) G 5-9 UConn
McDonald’s All American Game West Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Kamorea Arnold Germantown (WI) G 5-9 UConn
Sofia Bell Jesuit (OR) W 6-1 Oregon
Madison Booker Germantown (MS) W 6-1 Texas
Addyson Brown Derby Senior (KS) W 6-2 Iowa State
Breya Cunningham La Jolla Country Day (CA) F 6-4 Arizona
Kymora Johnson Saint Annes-Belfield (VA) G 5-7 Virginia
Tessa Johnson Saint Michael Albertville (MN) G 5-10 South Carolina
Amanda Muse Heritage (CA) F 6-4 UCLA
Judea Watkins Sierra Canyon (CA) G 6-0 USC
Mikaylah Williams Parkway (LA) G 6-0 LSU
Jada Williams La Jolla Country Day G 5-6 Arizona
Sahara Williams West (IA) W 5-10 Oklahoma

(SN)

Here is what ESPN had to say about Brooks being named a McDonald’s All-American.

Zoe Brooks, G

Signed with: NC State | 2023 ESPNW 100 ranking: 9
St. John Vianney HS (New Jersey)

Brooks is a gifted scorer who can flat out put the ball in the basket. Over the past 18 months, she has really gone to work on her conditioning and it brought her game to another level. She is a true three-level scorer. Defenses must be there on the close out, but containing Brooks is no easy feat as she attacks angles, changes speeds, and has the footwork and handle to counter. Her strength allows her to finish with contact at the rim and her touch provides an array of floaters and usage of the glass for buckets. Brooks sees the floor well and zips passes to teammates for open looks. Defensively, she has fantastic instincts and is good in passing lanes and in the press. Brooks is averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season. (ESPN)

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Women’s Basketball: #20 NC State 71 Miami 61: Box Score & Highlights

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#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.

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.

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