The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 2021-22 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW has averaged at least 16 points and eight re- bounds per game while shooting above 53.3 percent. If she keeps that pace this season, she'll become one of the program's top 10 scorers and top five rebounders. But for Cunane, it's not about the indi- vidual accolades. It's about cutting not one, but two sets of nets at the end of the season. An Experienced Pack If NC State's starting lineup remains the same as last season, it will be comprised of three graduate students, one senior and a junior. Collectively, that's 17 years of playing experience in one lineup. At least early on, expect the Pack to stick with what it knows. "I think Coach Moore is going to stick with some familiarity at the beginning of the season, but as the transfers and the freshmen come along, it's free ballgame for anybody," Cunane said. "As we get along in the season, you'll see the depth. We're going to be rolling out our depth left and right." Perez and Crutchfield will be a graduate guard duo in the backcourt capable of hitting shots from the perimeter and facilitating the offense. Perez led the ACC with an assist-to-turn- over ratio of 2.6 and converted 35.3 percent of her 85 attempts from behind the arc, while Crutchfield shot a team-best 47.3 percent on three-point attempts. The duo combined to produce 169 assists compared to just 75 turnovers. On the wing, Brown-Turner enters year three following her breakout sophomore campaign. The six-footer led the Wolfpack with 40 three-point field goals last season and was the team's second-leading scorer, averag- ing 13.5 points per game. Jones and Cunane bring back both experi- ence and leadership in their roles in the post, although don't be surprised to see Jones take the ball up the court when she is fully healthy and the opportunity presents itself. Cunane is the team's All-American, but Jones has displayed the ability to take over games in big moments. In the Pack's road win over top-ranked South Carolina, Jones produced a double- double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, in- cluding a three with 27 seconds left when the Pack was up by just two, and another that was the game's final bucket with just six ticks remaining. While leading the team back from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, she posted a career- high 25 points, including an individual 9-0 run to bring the Pack back to within one and help spur the come-from-behind win. The Wolfpack's "sixth starter," Boyd also brings an experienced option off of the bench. In Boyd and Brown-Turner's two seasons at NC State, the Pack is 8-1 in postseason games and 26-6 against ACC competition. Sophomore transfers Johnson and Hayes are also likely to find significant minutes on the floor. In the post, junior center Camille Hobby is capable of providing a spark off of the bench if Cunane gets into early foul trouble or needs a breather. She appeared in all 25 of the Pack's contests last year and averaged 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game. Of NC State's most likely nine-player ro- tation, each has at least one full season of playing experience and seven are considered upperclassmen. The Wolfpack wasn't short on talent last season, but with the addition of two key transfers and the retention of its successful core last winter, the Pack's combination of experience and skill should be among the best of any team in the nation. Tough Non-Conference Slate Awaits It won't take long for NC State to face its first tough test of the season. The Wolfpack will host South Carolina at Reynolds Coli- seum for the 2021-22 opener. Not only will the Gamecocks be looking to avenge their loss in Columbia last season, but they'll also be among the favorites to cut down the nets at the end of the year. Ac- cording to NCAA.com's preseason power poll, South Carolina is ranked No. 1 to the Pack's No. 5. The opener, slated for a 5 p.m. tip, will also be a nationally televised matchup on ESPN. "Starting off the year playing South Caro- lina has made us focus a lot more every day in the preseason," Cunane said. "Typi- cally you have your four or five games to warm up with before you play games that are more competitive. So warming up your 2021-22 NC State Women's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Nov. 3 UNC Pembroke^ 7 p.m. Nov. 9 South Carolina (ESPN) 5 p.m. Nov. 12 Wofford* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Nov. 14 Florida* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Nov. 15 Towson* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Nov. 19 Kansas State* (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Nov. 25 vs. Maryland# (FloHoops) 11 a.m. Nov. 27 vs. Washington State# (FloHoops) 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at Indiana% (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Dec. 5 Elon (ACCNX) 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at Pittsburgh (ACCN) 6 p.m. Dec. 12 St. Mary's (ACCNX) 2 p.m. Dec. 16 Georgia (ACCN) 6 p.m. Dec. 19 Virginia (ACCN) 4 p.m. Dec. 30 at Clemson (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 6 North Carolina (ACCN) 8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Notre Dame (ACCN) 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at Virginia (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 16 Duke (ACCN) 4 p.m. Jan. 20 Louisville (ESPN/2/U) 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 Virginia Tech (ACCN) 4 p.m. Jan. 27 at Miami (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at North Carolina (ESPN/ACCN) 3/4 p.m. Feb. 3 Florida State (ACCN) 6 p.m. Feb. 7 Georgia Tech! (ESPN/2/U) 6 p.m. Feb. 10 at Boston College (ACCN) 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at Duke (RSN) 2 p.m. Feb. 17 Wake Forest (RSN) 8 p.m. Feb. 20 Syracuse (RSN) 2 p.m. Feb. 27 at Virginia Tech (ACCN) 6 p.m. Mar. 2-6 ACC Tournament$ TBD ^ Exhibition; *Preseason WNIT at Reynolds Coli - seum; # Baha Mar Hoops in Nassau, Bahamas; % Big Ten/ACC Challenge; ! 17th Annual Play4Kay Game at Reynolds Coliseum; $ at Greensboro, N.C. " Yeah, we've won back-to-back ACC championships, and we want to do it again. But we also want to go further in the NCAA Tournament than we have. " Senior center Elissa Cunane