The #3 seed NC State Women’s Basketball team (28-5) defeated #6 seed Kentucky 72-57 tonight advancing to their 2nd consecutive Sweet 16.
The Wolfpack dominated the Wildcats in nearly every facet of the game.
NC State shot 46% from the field, and held Kentucky to a cruddy 31.9%. The Wolfpack were even better from beyond the arch, hitting 10 of 21 (47.6%). They owned the free throw line, taking 24 shots (making 16) compared to Kentucky’s 6 (made 4).
The Wolfpack snagged 19 more rebounds (50-31) than the Wildcats.
Redshirt Graduate Senior Kiara Leslie shined like the star that she is in her final outing at Reynolds Coliseum, scoring 26 points and snagging 10 boards. Leslie was 4 of 9 from beyond the arch.
Senior DD Rogers went out with a bang as well, recording her 6th career double-double (11 points & 11 boards).
Freshman sensation Elissa Cunane splashed the box score, scoring 13 points, grabbing 15 rebounds (career high), and dishing out 6 assists (career high).
Sophomore Kai Crutchfield was also in double figures, scoring 11 points (3-4 3PT) and churning out 6 assists.
NC State is heading to their 13th Sweet 16, and now boasts 28 wins on the year.
Last time the Wolfpack won 28 games in a season: 1979-80.
Only ONE NC State team has exceeded 28 wins, and this Wolfpack squad could tie the 1977-78 team for the most wins EVER on Saturday against #2 seed Iowa in Greensboro.
Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.
This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.
O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.
He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.
NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).
Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.
ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.
Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.
Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.
Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.
Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.
Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)
At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.
Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.
NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts and the beloved DJ Burns were both Siren Sounders for the Canes this evening, with Carolina defeating the Islanders 6-3, winning the Round 1 series 4-1.
Me: Were you nervous?
Kevin Keatts: No! I just won nine elimination games in the NCAA Tournament!