NC State to Face No.1 Seeded Duke in Quarterfinals
The Wolfpack are Now 3-0 Against Clemson for the Season
GREENSBORO, N.C. – NC State clinched a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2013 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament with a 56-45 win over No. 9 Clemson in Thursday’s second game. The Wolfpack will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday, March 9 at 2 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum.
NC State’swin was highlighted by junior forward Kody Burke’s game-high 16 points. Senior guard Marissa Kastanek contributed 14 points to the team’s final score, including two 3-pointers.
After taking the lead in the first half, Clemson’s field goal percentage fell from 42.4 percent to 16.7 percent in the second, as they finish their season 9-21 and 5-14 in the ACC.
The Lady Tigers took their largest lead of the game by eight points with just over five minutes left in the first. Sophomore guard Nikki Dixon contributed 11 of the team’s 29 first-half points.
NC State’s junior forward Kody Burke shot 5-of-9 in the last five minutes of the half, closing Clemson’s lead to 29-26 at halftime.
With NC State and Clemson neck and neck for most of the second half, a pair of free throws by NC State center Markeisha Gatling tied the score at 44-44 with 3:50 remaining. Kastanek shot a 3-pointer and Burke put five points on the board as the Wolfpack took a 52-45 lead with 1:42 left to play.
Myisha Goodwin-Coleman made four free throws in the final minute to give NC State the largest lead of the game and clinch the 56-45 victory over Clemson.
NC State’s win improved the series record to 12-5 in ACC Tournament play against Clemson. The team is now 16-15, 8-11 in the conference and on a three game winning streak as they prepare to face Duke on Friday afternoon.
Florida State vs 
Duke (66 - 72)
North Carolina vs 
Maryland (72 - 65)
