Courtesy: Karl DeBlaker http://www.gopack.com/ Marissa Kastanek scored 20 points tonight in the 84-70 victory over Florida Atlantic
RALEIGH, N.C. - With three starters in early foul trouble, NC State's other two in the starting lineup shined in a 84-70 victory over Florida Atlantic Tuesday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
Wolfpack starters Nikitta Gartrell, Lucy Ellison and Bonae Holston each picked up two fouls in the first 10 minutes of the game. Teammates Marissa Kastanek and Amber White did their best to make up for the trios absence on the court by combining for 27 first-half points and 45 for the game.
NC State shot well in the opening half, connecting on 57.7 percent of its opportunities, but turnovers resulted in 12 FAU points that left the Owls in front for the first 14-plus minutes of the game.
The visitors held the lead for the entire half until Kastanek drained her second three-ball for a 26-25 NC State lead with 5:31 to play until halftime.
Brittany Strachan extended the lead to 35-29 on an old-fashioned three-point conversion after she grabbed an offensive board and was fouled on the put back.
Moments later White's three-pointer and two foul shots capped off a 23-6 run to give the Pack a 42-31 lead at the break.
Out of the locker room it was more of the same as NC State scored the first 10 points of the half to extend its run to 33-6 and move its lead to 52-31 with 17:36 to play.
The lead grew to 23 points, 59-36, after a Strachan three-pointer.
NC State also made a point to crash the boards in the second half, grabbing 32 of the team’s 50 caroms after intermission.
"That was definitely something that we talked about in the locker room at the half," Harper said. "We came back out and really attacked the glass in the second half, being much more aggressive."
FAU led the game 25-19 with just over eight minutes left until halftime as Brittney Bowe and Jessica Knurick each had seven points for the visitors in the early going.
The slow start to the game by NC State quickly evaporated as White took over with 11 points the last eight minutes of the half and Kastanek chipped in with five of her own for the double-digit halftime lead.
"Amber played well," said Harper. "She stayed aggressive all night long. She has been great. She's really trying to learn and improve. She can really create and that's why we want to get her the ball."
Once the Wolfpack seized control of the game the Owls never got closer than 14 points.
White and Strachan set career-high's in points with 25 and 13 respectively, while Kastanek set her season high as well with 20.
"I thought Brittany played well," said Harper. "She really got in there on the boards and she made some shots for us too. We are going to need her in there on the boards this season.”
NC State plays its fourth game in a seven-day span to start the season at home against Davidson on Friday at 7 p.m. Harper is one win shy of No. 100 in her six-year coaching career.
Courtesy: Karl DeBlaker
