The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1364233
MAY/JUNE 2021 ■ 33 There was also a limited capacity crowd in Greensboro Coliseum due to the CO- VID-19 pandemic this time around. Granted, the total tournament attendance of 6,252 exceeded that of Reynolds Coliseum during the regular season with only parents in the stands, but it was still significantly lower than the 48,979 in attendance during the week of NC State's 2020 title. Lastly, the Wolfpack wasn't af- forded a dose of bracket luck this time. The Pack avoided the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds in the 2020 tournament due to upsets in previous rounds, but it received a chalk path in 2021. NC State first met seventh-seeded Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals af- ter earning a double-bye as a top-four seed. The matchup was intriguing considering the Hokies had previously handed the Pack its first loss of the season in January. But the Wolfpack was with- out its star, All-American and two-time first- team All-ACC junior center Elissa Cunane, due to COVID-19 protocols in that defeat, an 83-71 overtime loss in Blacksburg, Va. Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, Cunane was back and in top form for the postseason. She delivered a season-high and game-high 27 points, and finished with nine rebounds, two steals and one assist. NC State cruised to the semifinals with a 68-55 win over the Hokies. The path only got tougher from there. The Wolfpack found itself down 10 points to third-seeded Georgia Tech with less than nine minutes remaining, but the double-digit fourth-quarter deficit wasn't enough to keep the Pack out of the championship contest. NC State outscored the Yellow Jackets 23-8 in the final 8:26 to come away with a 66-61 victory. Four Wolfpack players finished in double figures led by Cunane's 23 points, and the Pack shot 50.0 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range in the second half to pave the way for the comeback win. NC State earned a rematch with the top- seeded Louisville team looking to avenge its lopsided home loss to the Pack during the regular season. The Wolfpack led the Car- dinals 26-25 at halftime of the title game — but found itself in a similar position in the fourth quarter, trailing by eight points with just less than nine minutes to play. But nothing was going to stop the Pack from claiming back-to-back ACC Tourna- ment championships. Maybe it was fate, but it was more likely resilience. NC State outscored Louisville 18-8 in the final 8:36 to come away with the 58-56 victory. With the game tied at 56 and less than 30 " I had somebody tell me a few years ago when I first got here, 'There's a pecking order in women's basketball, and you'll never change that.' Well, they were right. I didn't, but we've got some players that are trying to change that. Head coach Wes Moore " The Wolfpack won its second straight ACC Tournament title for the first time in school history and tied the program record with its third consecutive Sweet 16. PHOTO COURTESY ACC MEDIA