1 | 2 | F | |
---|---|---|---|
NC State (11-15 (2-9)) | 34 | 47 | 81 |
Virginia Tech (11-15 (1-10)) | 31 | 34 | 65 |
|
BLACKSBURG, Va. - An early NC State run to start the second half would prove to be too much for Virginia Tech as the Hokies fell 81-65 on Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Tech as the Hokies dropped to 10-15 overall and 1-10 in the ACC. NC State ended a three-game slid to improve to 11-15 and 2-9 in the conference.
Freshman guard Monet Tellier (Charlotte, N.C.) paced Tech with a career-high-tying 23 points in the game, 21 of which came in the second half. Tellier went for 17 straight during an eight-minute stretch in the second half to keep Tech in the game.
“Hats off to Monet for stepping up and giving us some fire,” Head Coach Beth Dunkenberger said. “She had a great game, she was aggressive and was able to knock down some shots.”
After seeing a 13-point lead cut to 34-31 at the half, NC State never looked back after the intermission. The Wolfpack open the second half on an 11-3 run by the first media time-out and went up by as many as 17 points.
The Hokies did manage to draw within seven points, 67-60, with 4:36 remaining on a Brittany Gordon (Sr., Howard County, Md.) layup, however NC State outscored Tech 14-5 the rest of the way to seal the victory.
Tech’s bench was critical in the game as it, in big part to Tellier, outscored NC State’s bench 41-10, but missed shots and trouble from the foul line plagued the Hokies all night. Tech made just 6-of-15 foul shots in the game, compared to the Wolfpack’s 19-of-30.
Half of NC State’s 34 first-half points came off of Tech’s 17 turnovers. The tables would turn in the second half as the Hokies only made four turnovers and the Wolfpack tallied nine.
“They ran a lot of different defenses, and we weren’t very patient,” Dunkenberger said after the game. “We know that turnovers are an Achilles heel and something we have to get better at, especially before we go into Cameron to play Duke because they turn you over, they turn good teams over.”
Bonae Holston paced the Wolfpack as she tossed in 20 points and was one of five NC State players in double figures.
The Hokies will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Noon as they travel to Durham, N.C., to take on No. 7 Duke.
For updates on Virginia Tech women's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WBBall).