The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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40 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JUSTIN H. WILLIAMS enior forward Kayla Jones does a little bit of everything for the NC State women's basketball team. The 6-1 bucket-getter from Jamesville, N.C., might not be the first name that comes to mind from the roster, but she's near the top of almost statistical category on the team and provides veteran leadership for a squad that appears destined to go deep into the postseason. Jones' 13.7 points per game are ranked third on the team, and she's second with 7.6 rebounds per contest as of Feb. 22. She's also among the top three in assists (second with 2.8 per game), steals (second with 1.1 per game) and blocks (tied for second with 10), and paced the team with a 46.2-percent three-point shooting average. However, her ability to produce in the biggest moments may be her most valuable contribution to the Wolfpack. Whether it was game-winning three at then-ranked No. 1 South Carolina to give NC State a four-point lead in the final sec- onds, her personal 9-0 run in the fourth quar- ter of the Pack's 16-point comeback road win over Boston College or her 13-rebound performance that led all players in the Wolf- pack's second win over a top-ranked oppo- nent this season against Louisville, Jones has proven that she thrives in crunch time. "When we need a bucket, that's when I really focus in," Jones said. "My family and coaches tell me to be more aggressive during the game from the jump, but it's like something just clicks. 'Okay, now you have to be aggressive.' "Usually I try to take the backseat role to helping my teammates by getting assists and scoring when I need to score. When the fourth quarter comes, I feel like I have to be aggressive. It doesn't even have to be me taking the shot; I just want to attack." The strong bond she has with her team- mates also helps fuel her in those moments. "I love them so much," Jones said. "When they say, 'Come on KJ,' it pulls on my heart. I think, 'Guys, I'm coming.' "I feel like I always need to be there for them, because they're always there for me. It's a huge motivator." The Wolfpack won the 2020 ACC Tour- nament in Greensboro last March for the program's first conference championship since 1991. This year, the Pack is aiming even higher after spending most of the sea- son ranked in the top five of the Associated Press poll. Much is still to be determined before the Wolfpack discovers its fate in March, but Jones believes her team possesses all of the weapons necessary to contend for a national title. "Last year's team was amazing, but we have so much balance this season," Jones said. "This year we have freshmen coming off the bench. [Sophomore forward] Jada Boyd brings that spark plug as a reserve. "Any given night, any one of us could go for 20 points." The Wolfpack has shown it can compete with, and defeat, the best teams in the coun- try, becoming just the third team in the last 20 seasons to top the AP poll's No. 1 team twice in a season. If NC State wants to repeat as confer- ence champions and make a run to its first Final Four appearance since 1998, the wise senior understands her team will have to play every opponent like it's the No. 1 team in the country. "We know we have to come in with ag- gression each and every game," Jones said. "We can't take any team lightly. That's the mentality we have to go in with, that we're the underdogs. "We have to come for them. That's when we play our best." ■ MS. CLUTCH Crunch Time Is Senior Forward Kayla Jones' Time To Shine S Jones hit the game-winning three-pointer at then-No. 1 South Carolina to give NC State a four-point lead in the final seconds of its first of two wins over the nation's top-ranked team this year. PHOTO BY ETHAN HYMAN, THE NEWS & OBSERVER/ COURTESY ACC MEDIA