NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A balanced scoring attack led N.C. State to its fourth straight victory, a 76-67 decision over Northwestern (La.) State Friday night at the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament.
The Wolfpack (5-1) advanced to the event's championship game at 5 p.m. today against host No. 21 Vanderbilt (5-0).
Freshman Marissa Kastanek scored a game-high 16 points for N.C. State and senior Lucy Ellison set career highs with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Senior Nikitta Gartrell scored 13 for the Wolfpack and Tia Bell added 10 - her third-straight double-digit scoring output off the bench.
Brooke Shepherd led four double-figure scorers for Northwestern State (2-3) with 13 points.
The Pack also had a season-high seven blocks, including three by Bell that moved her into sole possession of ninth in school history with 85, passing former Wolfpack star Andrea Stinson.
N.C. State 76, Northwestern St. 67
Northwestern (2-3): Thomas 1-4 0-0 2, Houston 3-11 4-5 11, Shepherd 3-7 4-4 13, McPhail 2-2 1-1 6, Williams 1-12 2-2 5, Greene 4-10 3-3 12, Kinlaw 3-4 0-0 6, Armstead 4-10 4-4 12.
NCSU (5-1): Holston 2-5 0-0 4, White 2-9 3-5 7, Gartrell 5-15 2-4 13, Kastanek 5-13 2-2 16, Ellison 3-6 9-12 15, Durham 0-1 0-0 0, Bell 5-8 0-1 10, Tasler 1-2 0-0 3, Muciniece 0-1 0-0 0, Strachan 2-7 4-5 8. Halftime-NCSU 40-39. 3-Point Goals-Northwestern 7-21 (Shepherd 3-6, Houston 1-4, Greene 1-4, McPhail 1-1, Williams 1-6), NCSU 6-20 (Kastanek 4-10, Gartrell 1-3, Tasler 1-2). Fouled Out-Thomas, McPhail. Rebounds-Northwestern 33 (Armstead 9), NCSU 46(Ellison 15). Assists-Northwestern 10 (Greene 4), NCSU 18 (White 6). Total Fouls-Northwestern 24, NCSU 18. Att.-NA.
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N.C. State's 61-52 ACC victory against Georgia Tech on Thursday was built on the memories of what happened the last time the two teams played. 
N.C. State’s 61-52 ACC victory against Georgia Tech on Thursday was built on the memories of what happened the last time the Wolfpack and Yellow Jackets played. 
The Wolfpack cannot lose this game and still harbor serious hopes of earning an NCAA bid based on its regular-season resume. 
If it weren't for that little home stumble against Georgia Tech, N.C. State might be very much on track for the 11 ACC wins their coach - astutely - thinks it will take to make the NCAA tournament. 
The first sentence of the foreword to "Duke Sucks," a newly released book that's jammed full of disdain for the Blue Devils basketball program, offers the following Tar Heel blue assertion: "The best thing about hating Duke University is that you never have to explain yourself." Keep up with the latest sports stories with our free e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
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