The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1481002
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 ■ 37 BY MATT CARTER u r i n g t h e 2 02 1-2 2 NC State women's basketball season, head coach Wes Moore was able to pencil in starters Jakia Brown- Turner, Kai Crutchfield, E l i s s a C u n a n e , K ayl a Jones and Raina Perez for 177 out of a possible 180 starts. Crutch- field, Cunane and Perez started all 36 contests. That same quintet accounted for 116 out of a possible 125 starts the year be- fore. In those two seasons, NC State went 54-7 overall, 29-3 in the ACC, won both conference tournaments and reached the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight while earn- ing a No. 1 seed each year in the NCAA Tournament. This year, Moore will have to get used to writing other names into the lineup for the first time. Only Brown-Turner returns from that starting five. Yet, de- spite losing 51.4 percent of its scoring, 59.3 percent of its assists and 45.3 per- cent of its rebounding, the Wolfpack program still has high expectations. "I think NC State stays in the conver- sation for the conference champion- ship," ESPN college basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli noted. "Virginia Tech, Louisville, Notre Dame, North Carolina — you could have five of the top 15 teams in the country from the ACC this year, which would be really interesting." ESPN.com's way-too-early women's basketball rankings in June had the Wolfpack at No. 8 nationally, second highest among ACC teams and trailing Louisville by one spot. That is a testament to the depth Moore established on last year's roster and his success during the offseason in the transfer portal. "I think you have to give credit to the Wolfpack fans for some of this because of the environment they have created," Antonelli explained. "It's become a des- tination point." BACKCOURT Moore prefers to use what he calls a one-in, four-out offense. That means a post player anchoring around the paint with four perimeter performers spread- ing the court out. This lineup typically has three guards on the floor at the same time. Brown-Turner, Crutchfield and Perez combined to form that trio the past two seasons. Perez, who received a cup of tea in the WNBA, averaged 8.6 points and 3.2 as- sists per game a year ago and created a lasting legacy with late, game-winning heroics in the 2021 ACC Tournament finals and 2022 NCAA Sweet 16. Crutchfield's knack for making key plays earned her the nickname "Clutch- field." She averaged 6.6 points per game, but she was a strong shooter, making 44.4 percent of her 3s, and arguably D Junior guard Diamond Johnson was the ACC Sixth Player of the Year last season and second on the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game. She led the Pack in 3-pointers (58) and steals (47), and was second in assists (78). PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS STILL LOADED After Three Consecutive ACC Titles, NC State Women's Basketball Restocks For Another Run