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
2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake | 3-0 | - | 9-5 |
| Northern Iowa | 3-0 | - | 8-6 |
| Belmont | 3-1 | 0.5 | 8-7 |
| Missouri State | 2-1 | 1 | 10-4 |
| Murray State | 2-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Bradley | 2-1 | 1 | 8-6 |
| Illinois State | 2-1 | 1 | 8-6 |
| Valparaiso | 1-2 | 2 | 5-9 |
| UIC | 1-3 | 2.5 | 4-9 |
| Evansville | 0-3 | 3 | 4-10 |
| Southern Illinois | 0-3 | 3 | 2-10 |
| Indiana State | 0-3 | 3 | 2-12 |
2024-25 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 4-0 | - | 13-2 |
| Louisville | 4-1 | 0.5 | 11-5 |
| Georgia Tech | 3-1 | 1 | 15-1 |
| California | 3-1 | 1 | 15-2 |
| Florida State | 3-1 | 1 | 13-3 |
| Duke | 3-1 | 1 | 12-4 |
| NC State | 3-1 | 1 | 11-4 |
| Clemson | 3-2 | 1.5 | 10-6 |
| North Carolina | 2-2 | 2 | 14-3 |
| Virginia Tech | 2-2 | 2 | 11-4 |
| SMU | 2-2 | 2 | 10-6 |
| Virginia | 2-2 | 2 | 10-6 |
| Miami | 1-3 | 3 | 11-4 |
| Stanford | 1-3 | 3 | 9-6 |
| Boston College | 1-3 | 3 | 10-7 |
| Pittsburgh | 0-4 | 4 | 8-9 |
| Wake Forest | 0-4 | 4 | 7-8 |
| Syracuse | 0-4 | 4 | 6-9 |
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