No. 13 NC State women beat No. 9 Maryland, improve to 9-0
When N.C. State decided to take care of the ball, it showed just how dangerous of a team it can be.
The Wolfpack were a bit careless with the basketball most of the game and finished with more turnovers (28) than made field goals (26), but made enough big plays down the stretch to knock off No. 9 Maryland, 66-59, Thursday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
NC State (9-0) settled down in the third quarter and got some momentum, led by junior guard Kai Crutchfield. The Raleigh native scored a game-high 19 points, 10 coming in the second half. She had a stretch of five in a row late in the fourth that gave the Wolfpack a nine-point lead with 2:24 remaining. Crutchfield’s layup, which made it 62-53, was just the second made basket by her from inside the 3-point arch. She did the rest of her damage from long range, making the Terrapins (7-2) pay for leaving her open, and hitting tough shots over them even when they had her covered.
“I was just trying to take what the defense gave me,” Crutchfield said. “I have to give it to my teammates setting me up for those things, just going off those screens and looking for those opportunities, but for the most part going off what they gave me.”
Maryland head coach Brenda Frese called Crutchfield the X-factor.
“She was sensational,” Frese said. “She was tough on both ends of the floor. It was impressive to watch, not fun to see, but she’s talented.”
Crutchfield got plenty of help. Sophomore center Elissa Cunane finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds, her ninth-career double-double. Junior forward Kayla Jones added 11 points and 14 boards, the second double-double of her career. Even though State was sloppy with the basketball, they won the rebounding battle 51-27.
The first half, despite being close with the biggest lead being five by Maryland, was riddled with turnovers. At the half the two teams combined for 24 turnovers, 15 of those coming from the Wolfpack. Despite that, NC State trailed by only two, 30-28, at the break.
Crutchfield catching fire in the second quarter had a lot to do with that. The Millbrook High School grad scored six points in the second, give the Wolfpack a 26-25 lead with a triple at the 4:29 mark. NC State took its biggest lead moments later when Aislinn Konig scored under the basket. The Terrapins tied the game at 28 when Blair Watson hit her fourth three of the half.
Maryland knocked down seven three pointers in the first half, including their first three made baskets, helping them jump out to a 9-4 lead.
But neither team could get out of their own way because of turnovers. The third quarter was a bit cleaner, not by much, but the Wolfpack seemed to find a groove. That started with getting touches for the 6-5 Cunane, who scored four of the first eight points in the third quarter as NC State took a four-point lead. The Wolfpack would hold onto that lead for the rest of the contest, despite the Terrapins shooting themselves back into the game after trailed by seven heading into the fourth.
Maryland, who knocked down nine three pointers and shot 47.4 percent from deep, pulled to within one, 50-49, with 6:18 remaining.
But Crutchfield hit her fourth three and Jones followed with a layup the next trip down the floor to put the Wolfpack up six.
“She just has a knack for hitting big shots,” NC State coach Wes Moore said about Crutchfield.
The five made 3s were a career-high for Crutchfield, who hit four three games ago against Texas.
Crutchfield only averaged 6.8 points through the first four games, but has scored a total of 70 points in the last five outings. Moore said that’s a testament to hard work and waiting for her opportunity.
“She steps up at game time,” Moore said. “She’s come a long way. Her freshman year she played seven minutes a game, now look at (her), I’m proud of her.”
The win was the 138th victory over a ranked opponent for Moore and the 34th straight home non-conference win for the Wolfpack. It was also their third-straight win over the Terps.
NC State returns home on Dec. 15, hosting Elon at noon.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 10:16 PM.
