Triangle Sports Roundup: ACC women’s hoops finishes busy weekend

Cheryl Treworgy, TSN via PrettySporty.com

RALEIGH, N.C. – All three Triangle-area Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) women’s basketball teams were in action on Sunday as the N.C. State Wolfpack (13-4, 3-1) and North Carolina Tar Heels (12-4, 1-2) posted wins while the Duke Blue Devils (14-2, 2-1) suffered their first league loss.

Regardless of the shortfall, the Blue Devils moved up a spot in the national rankings to No. 12 while the Wolfpack’s recent success over ranked opponents brought them into the 23rd spot, entering the poll for the first time this season.

On the outside looking in, the Tar Heels haven’t collected any notable wins yet to be considered for ranking.

Losses to then No. 18 Virginia Tech and No. 6 Florida State haven’t helped, but a match-up with Duke on Thursday at Cameron Indoor Stadium will give them another shot at making an impression nationally.

N.C. State 65, Wake Forest 50

Coming off a 67-64 loss to then No. 14 Miami, the Wolfpack was led by a career-high 23 points from Chelsea Nelson, and earned a 65-50 road win against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Twelve points from Ashley Williams and 10 from Miah Spencer reinforced the offensive effort while Jennifer Mathurin led all players with 10 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end.

Ariel Stephenson led Wake Forest with 17 points and was joined in double figures by teammate Elisa Penna with 15.

UNC 67, Virginia 58

Paris Kea’s nine points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists led North Carolina to a 67-58 win over Virginia at Carmichael Arena.

Earning their first ACC victory of the season, the Tar Heels’ winning finish featured a game-high 17-point performance from Destinee Wallker, a double-double from Stephanie Watts (5 points, 10 rebounds), and 11 points from Taylor Koenen.

Aliyah Huland El paced Virginia (11-5, 0-3) with 13 points, while J’Kyra Brown had 12 and Breyana Mason added 10.

Florida State 69, Duke 45

The Blue Devils’ road loss to No. 6 Florida State was their first shortfall to a ranked opponent this season.

Kyra Lambert’s team-high 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting led Duke’s offensive effort, but the Seminoles’ ability to stifle the NCAA’s third-best backcourt duo of Lexie Brown and Rebecca Greenwell was pivotal.

Dropping 4-of-4 free throws and extending her consecutive free throws-made streak to 53 (tied for the sixth longest streak in NCAA history), Brown posted only eight points.

Greenwell was held to a season-low two points and finished 0-for-5 from the field, including missing all three free throw attempts she put up.

Duke couldn’t generate enough offense to challenge, let alone overpower Florida State.

The Blue Devils’ shooting woes contributed to a season-low 26-percent conversion rate from the field.

Shakayla Thomas and Imani Wright led Florida State with 22 and 14-point finishes respectively.