NCAA WBB: Wolfpack holds off Wildcats in season-opening 70-64 win

Orin Day, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. State Wolfpack topped the Villanova Wildcats 70-64 in their home-opener at PNC Arena on Friday.

Guard Dominque Wilson’s 21 points and a double-double performance from forward Jennifer Mathurin (19 points, 11 rebounds) led the Wolfpack offense in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) versus Big East Conference matchup.

Guards Ashley Williams (12 points, 4 rebounds) and Miah Spencer (11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) also posted double-digit finishes that helped N.C. State avenge a 74-65 loss last season in the two teams’ seventh all-time meeting.

The Wildcats, WNIT quarterfinalists, were led by a dominating performance from Caroline Coyer who finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and five assists, while Adrianna Hahn and Alex Louin added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

“For the most part, very pleased,” Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore said of his team’s season-opening performance.

“They’re a good team and at the end of the year, they’re gonna have 20 wins, and they’re gonna go to the postseason; so when we look back on it, it’ll be a nice win.”

It was only the sixth game that that the Wolfpack had played at the venue since 2007, a substitute for the team’s regular home, Reynolds Coliseum, which is undergoing a $35 million renovation that won’t be complete until August 2016.

It took some time to adjust to their new surroundings, but the Wolfpack eventually managed to capitalize on holding the home-court advantage.

While the Wildcats took an early 11-4 lead in the first quarter, N.C. State kept pace, pulled within one, and then took its first and only lead of the game a few minutes later on a three from Mathurin.

“I felt like as a team, we were very aggressive and very active,” Mathurin said.

The Wolfpack carried a 21-14 lead into the second quarter.

Wilson and Mathurin continued to pile up points from the distance as Mathurin extended State’s lead to 14 points with a three-pointer with three minutes remaining in the half.

The Wolfpack led 40-26 at halftime.

“I hate we let ‘em get back in game – I talked to ‘em about it at halftime,” Moore said.

“The only way they’re gonna get back in is if we give up three’s or we give up offensive rebounds. We gave up three’s.”

Even while Spencer and Wilson tacked on five additional points to start the third quarter, Villanova’s shooting began to heat up.

The Wildcats put together a 20-9 run that got them closer as N.C. State carried a 54-46 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.

While both teams traded baskets, Villanova converted on four consecutive field goals, which included a three from Hahn that cut the Wolfpack lead to three points, 59-56, with 3:58 to play.

Coupled with the Wildcats’ steady shooting and shot selection, State struggled to score easy layups and inside shots, and made the game closer than desired.

The Wildcats managed to pull within two and N.C. State held on to a slim 61-59 lead.

“Some of the shots, we were rushing it, but we were tryin’ to get to the basket and draw a foul or get the layup because we knew they couldn’t guard us off the bounce, so we just tried to get to the basket,” Wilson said.

While the Wolfpack tried to work the ball into the paint to draw fouls, the Wildcats relied on their perimeter shooting as Hahn dropped another successful three-point attempt that evened the teams at 62-all with 2:04 remaining.

The Wildcats’ hands eventually cooled enough for N.C. State to do its work inside and from the line to secure the win.

“I think they came out (for the second half), with a lot more energy than we did,” Wilson said.

“I feel we got comfortable with the lead we had, and they came out like, ‘we’re gonna win this game’.

“It took us a little time to adjust,” Mathurin added.

A missed Villanova field goal attempt and a rebound from Mathurin was followed by an and-one from Wilson.

N.C. State led 67-62 with 39.7 seconds to play, part of an 8-2 run that closed out the game’s scoring.

“We definitely have some things we can work on,” Moore said.

“But, again, it was a good win for us.”