NC State flipped a rebounding switch against No. 18 Ole Miss
NC State went into this game with three top-25 losses, all on a neutral court. Head coach Wes Moore said it himself— the Wolfpack needed the win going into its ACC/SEC challenge showdown with No. 18 Ole Miss.
Rebounding was the key to getting there. The Pack lost the battle on the glass against LSU by 20. NC State fell to the Tigers by 17. When TCU and South Carolina defeated the Wolfpack, those teams held an advantage on the boards.
The program flipped the switch against Ole Miss, winning 68-61 in the ACC/SEC challenge after locking in on one of its pregame goals.
“I think that all those losses that we had were just off of pure rebounding,” Sophomore guard Zoe Brooks said after the game. “We got out-rebounded, and today we came out and we just made that emphasis that we’re going to out-rebound them.”
Ole Miss secured 34 rebounds after coming into the matchup with an 8.3 margin on the boards. NC State pulled down 45. In the first half alone, the Wolfpack won the battle on the boards by 7.
The program came into this contest ranked No. 16 in the ACC with a 2.9 rebounding margin over its first 7 games. Moore emphasized that needed improvement leading into the game, and NC State executed well.
“They’re a great rebounding team, an athletic team,” Moore said. “We were able to win that battle, kept them off the offensive boards for the most part.”
Sophomore center Mallory Collier and graduate guard Madison Hayes combined to record 9 offensive rebounds. Ole Miss finished with 13 as a team.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Bill Belichick
UNC hiring legendary coach
- 2New
Brian Hartline
OSU coach interviews at WVU
- 3
Campbell extension
ISU coach inks deal
- 4
NCAA Tournament
March Madness looking to expand
- 5Trending
Flag planting felony
Ohio politicians get involved
Senior guard Saniya Rivers said the team had a chance to watch Ole Miss before tonight because the SEC squad was also in the Bahamas for their holiday tournament. The Pack noticed how its future opponent crashed the glass.
“We knew that they were going to come in attacking the offensive boards,” Rivers said. “So I think we really emphasized boxing out on that.”
Ole Miss sped up NC State as the game went along, which helped the visiting team storm back in the fourth quarter inside Reynolds Coliseum. Before that change of tempo, the Wolfpack’s focus on rebounding helped control the pace of the game as the team built its double-digit lead.
NC State is now 1-3 against ranked foes. Moore conceded after the gamethat he might have over-scheduled this fall. With that said, games against physical SEC squads helps the Pack in the immediate and distant future. Adding a win against a ranked squad certainly boosts the NCAA Tournament resume as well.
“All three of our losses were against teams that are ranked in the top 10 now, so hopefully it makes you better, and you get used to that environment,” Moore said. “You get used to that kind of pressure, and hopefully it pays off when we get in ACC play and hopefully beyond.”
