Pack ready for rematch
There’s a big difference between the two teams that will step onto Kay Yow Court in Reynolds Coliseum on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
It’s still N.C. State and North Carolina. And it’s at the same place where the Wolfpack upset the then No. 2 Tar Heels on senior night, 72-65. But State is younger. They are less experienced. And they are coming off a loss against Boston College.
“Both teams are younger. And it’s going to be all about who wants the game the most,” senior forward Khadijah Whittington said. “We have to come and bring intensity and play together as a team — just come in the game focused.”
Before the team’s game against the Tar Heels last season, Whittington said there was a turning point a few games before. Now, as ACC play begins, she sees the team getting in the right mindset once again.
“I see a turning point coming,” Whittington said. “Our team has focus, now that we got a taste of the ACC by playing BC. I think that we’re hungry now and we know what we need to do to get the job done. Our practices have been going really well.”
However, the team will be without starting forward Lucy Ellison, who hurt her knee just more than a week ago. Junior guard Shayla Fields said she expects the rest of the team to step up.
“They have to step up,” Fields said. “[Sophomore center] Chanita Jordan is doing a great job and she’s filling in for Lucy right now and I think she’s stepped up in a big way.”
What happened last year at Reynolds?
It was a day where just one of the moments could have been a memorable highlight for the entire season.
It was the day the University officially unveiled Kay Yow Court. It was senior night for multiple players on the team. And it was a night where N.C. State upset No. 2 North Carolina 72-65 — the first game on Kay Yow court.
The Wolfpack took an early 44-18 lead in the first half, but faltered in the second half as the Heels made it tight. State would hold off UNC and fans, including multiple players from the men’s basketball team, stormed the court.
“I just remember that our seniors were so excited. Their intensity just rolled over on the whole team,” senior forward Khadijah Whittington said. “Them naming the court after Kay Yow, and it being senior night, and coach Yow being able to be with us — we had so many emotions going into that game.”
State hopes to ‘Pack the House’ on Sunday
The women’s basketball team is looking for fans on Sunday afternoon. And people in attendance could get more than just a basketball game.
N.C. State is taking part in the 2008 NCAA/ACC “Pack the House” Challenge in its game against North Carolina.
The challenge is a “national competition where ACC and Division I schools compete against each other with the goal of setting an attendance record and most importantly, growing the sport of women’s basketball,” according to a release from the University.
“Fans are very important to the game,” senior forward Khadijah Whittington said. “When they’re in the game, that’s when we get fired up. We know Carolina is going to bring their fans with them. [Our fans] are our sixth player.”
Doors are set to open two hours before game time and some fans will receive prizes, including two tickets to the State-Duke game at the RBC Center on March 1. A “Wolfpack Women’s prize pack” will be given out as will be prizes during each timeout, the release said.
Last 10 games against UNC
3/4/07 L 54-602/16/07 W 72-651/21/07 L 65-863/4/06 L 69-902/2/06 L 61-751/15/06 L 53-652/20/05 L 72-75 (OT)1/14/05 L 75-773/7/04 L 64-752/8/04 W 62-54
