Wolfpack rallies to get past Deacons

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF REPORT
Published: January 23, 2010

RALEIGH

Amber White hit a jumper at the buzzer to lift N.C. State past Wake Forest 51-49 in an ACC women's game last night at Reynolds Coliseum.

Secily Ray led the Deacons (11-8, 2-3) with 20 points and nine rebounds. Bonae Holston had 15 points for the Wolfpack (12-7, 2-2) and Nikitta Gartrell had nine rebounds.

N.C. State held a 23-21 halftime lead, with Ray scoring 16 of her 20 points in the final 20 minutes of play.

With 4:15 to play, Holston hit two free throws to tie the game for the seventh time. Courteney Morris answered with a 3-point basket, and White followed with a layup at 2:33. Ray made a block against Lucy Ellison's layup attempt and followed with a driving layup of her own at 1:22 to put the Deacons in front 49-46.

Gartrell hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds to play to tie the game for the eighth and final time.

Wake Forest had possession and Brooke Thomas missed a layup with 13 seconds remaining, setting the stage for White's game-winning basket.

"Obviously you are going to be frustrated with this game," said Coach Mike Petersen of Wake Forest. "If you aren't frustrated something's wrong. We weren't able to follow through on the game plan down the stretch and N.C. State played very well down the stretch."

Wake Forest is home to Clemson at 2 p.m. on Sunday.