No. 17 NC State women use big late run to top Belmont 77-62
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Grace Hunter scored 16 points, Kai Crutchfield added 15 and No. 17 North Carolina State used a big run in the fourth quarter to defeat Belmont 77-62 in the season-opener for both teams Wednesday night.
The Wolfpack, who have won 16 straight openers, led 55-52 after three quarters and twice swapped baskets with the Bruins before Hunter knocked down a jumper. Crutchfield followed with a 3-pointer and another jumper before Aislinn Konig drilled a 3. The same trio scored the next eight points with Hunter finishing the 18-0 surge for a 77-56 lead with 2:54 to play.
Belmont, which went 31-4 and won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for the third straight year to make the NCAA Tournament, missed seven shots and had three turnovers during the more than five-minute drought.
Konig finished with 11 points and Elissa Cunane 12, combining with Crutchfield to help give the N.C. State bench a 36-16 advantage.
Jenny Roy had 14 points and Ellie Harmeyer and Darby Maggard 13 each for Belmont.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Tom Danaher
- Eric Brewton
- Maggie Tieman
2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Drake | 19-1 | - | 29-6 |
Belmont | 17-3 | 2 | 26-9 |
Missouri State | 15-5 | 4 | 23-10 |
Northern Iowa | 14-6 | 5 | 16-16 |
Illinois State | 13-7 | 6 | 22-12 |
Murray State | 12-8 | 7 | 20-12 |
UIC | 10-10 | 9 | 18-16 |
Southern Illinois | 6-14 | 13 | 11-20 |
Indiana State | 6-14 | 13 | 11-21 |
Valparaiso | 4-16 | 15 | 5-25 |
Bradley | 2-18 | 17 | 6-26 |
Evansville | 2-18 | 17 | 4-28 |
2023-24 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Virginia Tech | 14-4 | - | 25-8 |
NC State | 13-5 | 1 | 31-7 |
Notre Dame | 13-5 | 1 | 28-7 |
Syracuse | 13-5 | 1 | 24-8 |
Louisville | 12-6 | 2 | 24-10 |
Florida State | 12-6 | 2 | 23-11 |
Duke | 11-7 | 3 | 22-12 |
North Carolina | 11-7 | 3 | 20-13 |
Miami | 8-10 | 6 | 19-12 |
Georgia Tech | 7-11 | 7 | 17-16 |
Virginia | 7-11 | 7 | 16-16 |
Boston College | 5-13 | 9 | 14-19 |
Clemson | 5-13 | 9 | 12-19 |
Pittsburgh | 2-16 | 12 | 8-24 |
Wake Forest | 2-16 | 12 | 7-25 |