WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

WBB: State knocks off Clemson on senior night, 69-43

Feb 26, 2009

Raleigh, N.C. — On senior night a first-year forward shined brightest for NC State in a 69-43 victory over Clemson Thursday in the final game of the season at Reynolds Coliseum.

It was Shayla Fields’ night as one of two seniors playing their final game on Kay Yow Court. And the steady point guard did not disappoint with 16 points and a career-high seven assists, but it was freshman Bonae Holston that put on a show. The Newport News, Va., native tallied a career-high 24 points and hauled in 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double in league play.

N.C. State (13-15, 5-8 ACC) led 30-14 at halftime, but Clemson cut its deficit down to nine, 42-33, with 11 minutes remaining.

However, Holston had different plans this evening, running off 13 straight Wolfpack points to put the game out of reach with a 58-38 lead with under six minutes to play.

All 10 healthy players saw time for N.C. State Thursday night.

“I think we’re in a good place right now,” said interim head coach Stephanie Glance. “We’ll look to play well at Boston College this weekend and keep this momentum going into next week’s ACC Tournament.”

The game was a culmination of extreme highs and lows for the Wolfpack this season, many coming at Reynolds, after losing its long time mentor to cancer in late January. Fields, who Glance described post-game as being rock solid for this team, new in her mind this was going to be a special night.

“It was emotional knowing that Coach Yow wasn’t going to be here for senior night,” explained Fields, who went over 1,300 career points tonight. “Thinking back over my four years, just the opportunity I was given here at NC State has been such a blessing.”

The Wolfpack has won three of four games heading into its seaon finale against Boston College. The game is a big one, as both teams will be clawing for a better seed for the upcoming tournament in Greensboro.

State got off to a great start, leading 11-1 just seven minutes into action. The rangy Tia Bell used her length over the Clemson front line to drive the basket for seven early points, including a running layup with 8:28 left for an 18-7 advantage.

Fields later scored five straight points to extend the lead to 26-9 after a conventional three-point play at the 3:11 mark.

Two free throws from Bell gave her nine points by halftime and a 30-14 lead for the Wolfpack. Clemson shot just 18.8 percent in the first half and the Pack turned the ball over only three times.

Clemson (13-16, 2-12 ACC) limps into the ACC Tournament having lost 12 straight league games. Lele Hardy, the fourth-leading scorer in the league at 17.0 points a game, had a team-best eight points.

NC State kept every player on an opposing team to single digit scoring for the first time since the Brown game on Nov. 18, 2007.