Triangle Sports Roundup – NC State, UNC, Duke undefeated in Women’s Basketball

Wolfpack knocks off No. 1, Tar Heels #25DaysOfJs, Duke in the #KaraEra

ACC

 

Peter Koutroumpis

editor@trianglesportsnet.com

Triangle-area ACC women’s basketball fans have been spoiled early in 2020-2021 NCAA non-conference play.

Albeit Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have only allowed handfuls of people to witness play live, if at all.

Thanks to television coverage, NC State, UNC, and Duke fans have watched nothing but winning basketball – a combined 9-0 heading into the weekend.

If the trend continues, this will be one of the most engaging seasons to follow all three programs as they contend for an ACC title and beyond.

Preseason ACC polls from league coaches/ACC Blue Ribbon Panel put NC State at No. 2, North Carolina at No. 4/5, and Duke at No. 11/10 respectively.

Wolfpack hunts down Gamecocks

ACC

The most significant of this small sampling of wins was posted on Thursday as the eighth-ranked Wolfpack ground out a 54-46 road win over top-ranked South Carolina.

Not posting a win over a top-ranked team since Mar. 3, 2007, it was also just the third victory over a top-ranked team in a total of 20 total such games in program history.

The defending ACC Tournament champions got a chance to enjoy another jubilant post-game celebration with head coach Wes Moore.

Tar Heels piling it on

ACC

Back in Chapel Hill on Thursday, North Carolina posted its fourth win in a row, beating South Carolina State 98-28 led by five players finishing in double figures.

The team’s 98 points marked a season high in scoring and assists (27), while allowing the fewest points against thus far.

Yes, it’s still early, but the fourth day of the #25DaysOfJs brought much good cheer from Carmichael Arena early in head coach Courtney Banhart’s second season leading the Tar Heels.

Duke rebuild underway

ACC

Following along Tobacco Road to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, Duke launched 13 three-pointers, tied a school record as a result, and moved to 2-0 on the season with an 83-56 victory over Western Carolina earlier in the week on Nov. 29th.

With a lineup that is a work-in-progress for new head coach Kara Lawson to shape and develop, the Blue Devils have put together some impressive results early in the “KaraEra”.

Next up:

Dec. 5

Noon – East Carolina at Duke (ACCSNX)

Dec. 6

2 p.m. – Coastal Carolina at NC State (ACCSNX)

4 p.m. – Charlotte at North Carolina (ACCSN)

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