The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1249704
26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER The 15-point halftime deficit was the larg- est Duke has faced since 2016. NC State had a 27-point lead with 1:54 left and was flirting with giving Duke its first 30-point loss since it was routed by that margin in the 1990 NCAA national title game against UNLV. Female Game Of The Year There's no ignoring history. The Wolfpack women's basketball team ended the year on the highest note possible by winning the program's first ACC Tourna- ment championship since 1991. A close, back-and-forth contest with Florida State ended with NC State going on a 13-3 run to clinch a 71-66 victory in front of a partisan Wolfpack crowd at the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum. There were 12 lead changes and nine ties, and with 3:45 left in the contest the Semi- noles appeared to be gaining control with a 10-0 run to take a 63-58 advantage. NC State, though, turned to its leader to answer. Senior guard Aislinn "Ace" Konig nailed a three-pointer in transition to tie the game with 2:28 left. The Pack defense tightened up after that, and NC State made enough of its free throws to open up a lead that held, setting off a celebration near midcourt in what will be the lasting memory of the year in Wolfpack athletics. Male Breakout Performer Of The Year Sophomore Nyls Korstanje was expected to be a top swimmer at NC State. He was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2018-19 and made it to the B-finals of both the 50 and 100 freestyle at the NCAA Championships. This year, though, Korstanje took it to the next level. He won the ACC title in both of the freestyle sprint races, and his best times in each were on track to make him an A-finalist in each race before the national championships were canceled. He also had All-America potential in the 100 butterfly had the races been swam. Instead, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced All-Americans, and Korstanje was honored in three individual races (50 and 100 free, and 100 fly) and three relays (400 free, and 200 and 400 medley). Only star senior Coleman Stewart (seven All-America laurels) was more hon- ored on NC State's ACC-champion swim- ming team this year. Female Breakout Performer Of The Year For the second straight year, sophomore Alana Smith was named an All-American in women's tennis by Intercollegiate Ten- nis Association for her work with doubles partner and senior Anna Rogers. The two went 9-2 this season with four wins over top-25 ranked opponents. They spent over four months ranked No. 1 nationally and were never outside the top two. Smith, though, proved she is more than just a stellar doubles partner. She handled the bulk of the No. 1 singles matches for the Wes Moore and his women's basketball team came out on top in an exciting ACC championship game that featured 12 lead changes and nine ties. PHOTO BY CHRIS BAIRD Sophomore Nyls Korstanje won ACC titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and earned All- America honors in both races, plus the 100 butterfly and three relays. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS