NC State
University of Nebraska
Wolfpack Breazez By Nebraska, 55-45
11/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2004
ST. THOMAS, USVI - NC State women's basketball improved to 2-1 overall after a 55-45 win over Nebraska in the Paradise Jam on Friday, Nov. 26, in the St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. The Wolfpack's Kendra Bell led with 13 points as NC State advanced to the championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m. Ashley Key also reached double figures with her 10 points and Tiffany Stansbury pulled down 13 rebounds in the effort. Nebraska fell to 2-2 and was led by Kiera Hardy's 16 points.
The Pack knew it needed to keep Nebraska's offense frustrated and that is exactly what happened. NC State forced 25 turnovers by the Huskers. NC State also knew that it had to limit three pointers and it did that too, as Nebraska managed just 2-of-11 from the line. On the other hand, the Wolfpack only coughed up a season-low eight turnovers and ripped down 19 offensive rebounds, a 12-board difference, leading to 15, second chance points for the game.
"We knew when we entered the game that our defense was going to make the difference in the outcome of the game," said NC State head coach Kay Yow. "Nebraska is a very structured team and we forced them to turn the ball over more than it is used to."
Senior co-captain Kendra Bell recorded seven of her 13 total points in the first half as she propelled the Pack to take an early 8-0 lead. NC State held Nebraska without a bucket for the first five minutes and until the second half, Nebraska's offensive surge remained much of the same - limited. NC State held the Huskers to a low 19 points in the first half, while it clung to a seven point advantage at 26-19 at the half.
The second half started out in the favor of Nebraska as it quickly erased the deficit with a 9-to-2 run. The Huskers eventually took the lead for several minutes, at 32-30, but NC State never relinquished it again as sophomore Ashley Key tallied all of her 10 points in the second period. The Pack took a 19-4 run in a seven minute span between the 15 and eight minute marks, which eventually led to a game-high 15 point spread. Nebraska finished the period shooting 60 percent, but it wasn't enough to overcome the offensive surge from the Wolfpack.
NC State will play the winner of tonight's second game at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. Eastern) on Saturday, Nov. 27. Hampton and Louisville tipped off at 9:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. Eastern) following the NC State win.
