NC State Wolfpack enters AP Poll at No. 20

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State Wolfpack entered the Associated Press (AP) women’s college basketball poll in the No. 20 spot as announced in the latest release of the rankings on Monday.

A dramatic 67-61 win over the then-No. 20 Syracuse Orange at Reynolds Coliseum on Sunday kicked off both teams’ Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) schedule and pushed the Wolfpack’s overall record to 14-1, equaling the program’s best start since the 1999-2000 season.

After earning votes in the poll for the past two weeks, some big wins over ranked opponents helped NC State to earn its recognition amongst the top teams in the country.

Defeating top-20 teams in the LSU Tigers and Syracuse Orange at home where the Wolfpack is still undefeated has also helped to extend the team’s current win streak to eight games.

Before Monday’s ranking release, NC State had not been ranked in the AP poll since March 2007 when they ended the 2006-2007 season sitting in the No. 18 spot with a 25-10 record.

Following the win over the Orange, NC State athletic director Debbie Yow was asked how important it was for coach Wes Moore and his staff to have the team playing so well at this point in the season.

“Well, I think it sends a message about the intentions of this team to be a factor under the leadership of Coach Moore,” Yow said.

“It was a tremendous crowd, close to 3,500. It’s a great way to start the league.”