TRACKING THE PACK
16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER
■ Making Some Noise
When the Associated Press pollsters left
NC State out of their preseason women's
basketball rankings, the snub didn't go un-
noticed by junior guard Aziaha James.
"People are looking down on us already,"
she said, "so we don't have anything to lose
right now."
James and her teammates knew they
would have a chance to prove their skeptics
wrong, starting with a game against an op-
ponent that never gets underestimated or
overlooked. With second-ranked Connecti-
cut set to visit Reynolds Coliseum on Nov.
12, the Wolfpack was faced with a daunting
challenge, but also an opportunity. Coach
Wes Moore said of his players heading into
the game, "They're excited, they're confi-
dent, and they should be."
Moore wasn't kidding. The Pack got a
career-high 33 points from junior guard
Saniya Rivers, while James scored 12 of her
18 points in the fourth quarter to lift NC
State to a thrilling 92-81 win.
The arena had been packed for the Hus-
kies' visit, and a wild celebration ensued.
"The fans were amazing tonight," Rivers
gushed afterward.
That excitement still hasn't faded. NC
State went on to win its first 11 games of the
season, including a 78-60 romp over third-
ranked Colorado at the Paradise Jam holiday
tournament in the Virgin Islands.
If people were looking down on the Pack
in early November, they're looking up now.
As of mid-December, NC State was ranked
No. 3 in the AP poll.
PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS
PACK PICTURE
