Women's Hoops Blog

Inane commentary on a game that deserves far better


Saturday, February 17, 2007

The Wolfpack brought the house down in Raleigh, crushing UNC during the year's most surprising first half, and then holding on for the win.

Before the game, NCSU renamed the women's hoops court for Kay Yow, the longtime, much-celebrated coach who returned to the hardwood earlier this year after time off to fight recurrent breast cancer. Fans wore pink to support her on Senior Night.

No wonder the Wolfpack started strong; they led by 26 at one point, by 19 at the half, and dug in even though Gillian Goring fouled out. Keisha Brown led NCSU with 16.

Latta had another lousy night: 5-21, 0-8 from downtown. UNC came within one possession late, but never retook the lead. Coach Hatchell: "We just got too far in the hole."

It's the second startling ACC upset this month, and should confuse the polls: is Tennessee everyone's number two now? (Probably.)

In Raleigh, there's no confusion at all. The court dedication "meant a lot," said NCSU's Sasha Reaves, "and I think we came out and showed that by the way we played."