Junior forward Khadijah Whittington and senior center Gillian Goring were all smiles as they addressed the media after an 80-57 win over Wake Forest on Sunday. Goring had reason to smile, as she had scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. According to interim head coach Stephanie Glance, the dominant front-court play of Goring and Whittington, who also had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, was the key factor in the Wolfpack’s success in the match-up.
“Our inside game really established our offensive end of the floor early,” Glance said. “And that made a difference in the game.”
The Pack went on a 16-2 run that gave it a 30-11 lead with 5:40 remaining in the first half, and Wake Forest found itself with a deficit too large to combat, despite a 31-point performance from sophomore guard Yolanda Lavender.
“State’s a good team,” Wake Forest coach Mike Petersen said. “If you’re going to come in here and beat State on their floor, you better not turn it over — and you’ve got to make layups. If you do those two things, you’re going to have a chance. If you don’t do those two things, you don’t have a chance.”
Wake opened the second half with an 8-1 run, only to allow State to score 11 unanswered points immediately thereafter. Petersen said the front court play of Whittington and Goring was too much for Wake, particularly its ability to grab offensive rebounds.
Goring started at center for the second time this season after battling injuries for a majority of the early season, and she said she is glad to finally be healthy.
“This is the healthiest I’ve been in my career,” Goring said. “And hopefully I’ll stay that way.”
Goring said being healthy has given her a new confidence in practice that has carried over to game performances. Whittington was quick to compliment the recent play of her 6-foot-7 teammate.
“She’s giving our team confidence that we can be a great team just by having her in the middle,” Whittington said. “I’m happy she’s playing up to her potential.”
The win gave State its second straight conference win, and Glance now has the task of preparing her team to face an undefeated Duke team that just stole the No. 1 spot in the country from Maryland after a 19-point thrashing of Maryland.
Glance, who is 10-4 as the interim coach for recovering coach Kay Yow, said the Pack will have its hands full with a talented Duke team, but will come prepared. According to Glance, Yow is doing well and continues to inspire her players and fellow coach in her recovery from breast cancer treatments.
“I talk to her every day,” Glance said. “And she’s doing as well as anyone in her situation could possibly do. She’s an inspiration to each of us and to so many others.”
Sophomore guard Shayla Fields notched 13 points for State, while senior guard Ashley Key added 10 points and six offensive rebounds in the winning effort.
