Bell, Fields lead Wolfpack

18 points apiece help top American

Tia Bell and Shayla Fields each scored 18 points Sunday as N.C. State bounced back from its first loss of the women's basketball season with a 73-63 victory over American in the consolation game of the Subway Classic in Minneapolis, Minn.

Junior forward Lucy Ellison had her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Nikitta Gartrell added 11 points for the Wolfpack (4-1).

A day after losing to Yale in its tournament opener, N.C. State raced to an 18-3 lead, making nine of its first 12 shots.

The lead grew to 17 points, before the Eagles went on an 18-5 run to get to 25-21 just over five minutes before halftime.

But as quickly as American made it a game, N.C. State closed the first half on a 13-1 run to take a 38-22 lead.

American made another run and made it a one-possession game, 59-56, when Nicole Ryan hit a 3-pointer with 3:23 left.

But the Pack secured its victory with free throws, converting 10 of 12 late in the game.

Bell set a career high with her 18 points, topping the 17 she scored Tuesday against Elon.

Michelle Kirk led American (3-2) with 16 points.

N.C. State will hit the road again next weekend for a tournament hosted by Florida International in Miami. The Pack will take on the host Panthers at 6 p.m. Friday and No. 20 Auburn at 6 p.m. Saturday.

TOP 10 WOMEN

NO. 8 STANFORD 81, NO. 3 RUTGERS 47: Jayne Appel had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Kayla Pedersen added 17 points as the host Cardinal (3-1) took its fourth straight victory over the Scarlet Knights (2-2).

NO. 5 TENNESSEE 94, LOUISIANA TECH 59: Vicki Baugh, in only her second game back after knee surgery, scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the host Lady Vols (3-1) defeat the Techsters (1-2).

NO. 10 BAYLOR 83, RICE 58: Rachel Allison scored 16 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, leading the Bears (4-0) over the host Owls (2-1) at Houston. Allison had her second double-double of the season by halftime, with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

MORE ACC WOMEN

NO. 11 MARYLAND 88, UCLA 65: Kristi Toliver scored 26 points and passed another career milestone to lead the host Terrapins (3-1) over the Bruins (2-1).

Toliver, who this year became the program's all-time assists leader, passed 1,500 points for her career, the 10th player in Maryland history to do so.

Marissa Coleman added 22 points, passing 1,600 points for her career and moving into sixth-place all-time.

Doreena Campbell, who grew up 45 minutes from Maryland's campus, led UCLA with 25 points.

NO. 15 NOTRE DAME 102, BOSTON COLLEGE 54: Becca Bruszewski scored 18 points to lead six players in double figures and the Fighting Irish (3-0) shot 65 percent in cruising to a victory over the host Eagles (3-1).

The last time BC gave up 100 points was 103-71 loss to Providence on Jan. 23, 1993.

FLORIDA 72, NO. 22 FLORIDA STATE 57: Sha Brooks scored 24 points to lead the host Gators (3-1) past the rival Seminoles (3-1) for their first win over a top 25 team in its past 15 tries.

VIRGINIA TECH 69, GEORGE MASON 52: Junior guard Lindsay Biggs went 7-for-11, including 5-for-6 from the beyond the 3-point arc, for a career-high 19 points in leading the Hokies (4-0) over the host Patriots (0-4).

(From Virginia Tech News Release)