The ETSU women’s basketball team was defeated Thursday in the first round of the 2015 Women’s National Invitation Postseason Tournament, by the North Carolina State Wolfpack with the score 73-58 in Brooks Gym.
Both teams battled head to head in the first half. The two teams ended the first half tied at 25 and had nine lead changes within the first 10 minutes.
ETSU took its largest lead of 5 points at the beginning of the first quarter, just 2:56 in the start of the period.
Shooting 36 percent from the field, ETSU kept an 18-14 lead for the remaining nine minutes of the half.
With 23 seconds remaining in the period the Lady Bucs were ahead 2 points until N.C. State’s, Jennifer Mathurin completed a layup to send both teams into halftime, 25-25.
The Lady Bucs were locked in defensively in the first half as they limited NC State to 27 percent shooting and zero 3-pointers. Despite the tremendous defense in the first period, the Bucs failed to convert on the other end of the court.
The second period looked to be the opposite of the first.
The game was tied for 3 minutes and 49 seconds before the Wolfpack began a 7-0 run from 19:03 to 16:42, which led to a 34-27 lead. As the effectiveness of the crowd grew, so did the game play of the Lady Bucs.
ETSU cut the lead to just one. N.C. State remained focused through the cheering of about 1,500 fans going against them.
N.C. State took off again as they went on an 11-4 run giving them a 52-44 lead, and a final 13-4 run that put the game out of reach.
ETSU combined for 22 points off the bench compared to N.C. State’s seven. Senior guard Cara Bowling added 11 points and senior forward Maria Bond added 9 points.
The Bucs shot 43 percent, compared to the Wolfpack’s 50 percent from the field in the second half with six 3-pointers included.
ETSU Junior Guard Chandler Christopher added 11 points along with teammate Serena Clark’s (senior forward) 14 points and 11 rebounds, which helped her achieve her 11th double-double of the season and her 24th double-double of her career.
N.C. State guards combined for 49 points.
Miah Spencer (sophomore guard) scored 23 points, Len’Nique Brown (senior guard) scored 14 points and Dominique Wilson (sophomore guard) scored 12 points.
The Lady Bucs struggled to the boards as N.C. State outrebounded ETSU, 43-32.
N.C. State also scored 32 of its points in the paint and forced 16 turnovers for the Bucs. ETSU did well in the paint, by collecting 28 points and also assisting on 11 of its 21 points and added 10 second chance points.
