The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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TRACKING THE PACK 14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Mimi Collins has been one of the cata- lysts behind the NC State women's bas- ketball team's return to the top 10 this season. The graduate forward is averaging ca- reer highs in scoring, rebounding, shot blocking and three-point shooting. She has helped anchor the starting lineup as the team's 6-foot-3 power forward and also has played most of the backup center minutes. Thanks to her outstanding play well into the ACC schedule, she made the top- 10 list for the Katrina McClain Award, an honor that recognizes the top power forward in Division I women's college basketball. "Mimi is having a great year," head coach Wes Moore told WKNC after the Wolfpack defeated Boston College on Jan. 28. "She has worked hard on her three- point shot, and I think that's made her more of a threat offensively because you have to guard her at all three levels. … Mimi is a big part of our success this year, so I'm happy for her." Collins truly excelled during the Pack's start to conference play. That included a stretch of games in which she started at center due to graduate River Baldwin's ankle injury. Collins kicked off the ACC slate with a career-high 25-point performance in a win over Virginia. The graduate student, playing her second season with the Wolf- pack after transferring from Maryland, went on to score at least 9 points and grab a minimum of 5 rebounds in each of the next eight Wolfpack contests. "Being a super senior, your two months is coming up," Collins said. "I just want to make the most of it and just try to do what's best, and I just have great team- mates. They set me up perfectly, and I can't thank them enough for everything they've done for me." There was a moment during a hard- fought 63-59 victory over North Carolina that perfectly showcased Collins' timely playmaking this season. Junior guard Saniya Rivers drove to the hoop for a la- yup and stayed with the play even after an uncalled foul by UNC. Securing a tip by freshman forward Maddie Cox, Rivers rocketed a pass into the paint for a cutting Collins, who converted the wide-open layup. "Mimi is always there when I need her, so that was a big play for her," Rivers said. "I was tired," Collins added. "I'm not going to lie to you, I did not want to run, but I saw how wide open I was." Rivers and Collins scored 14 points apiece to pace the Wolfpack against the Tar Heels and also grabbed 9 and 7 re- bounds, respectively, to lead NC State on the glass as well. Collins suffered a knee injury Feb. 11 against Pittsburgh and did not see action in the the Pack's game at Notre Dame four nights later. Her status was still unknown in the wake of that 59-43 victory over the Irish. If she's healthy, Collins will play a criti- cal role in the Wolfpack's ACC and NCAA Tournament runs. She has played at three perennial championship contenders in her college career and has plenty of expe- rience in the postseason. She signed with Tennessee as a Mc- Donald's All-American out of Slidell, La., before transferring to Maryland and then spending her last two seasons of college basketball in Raleigh. Throughout this season, NC State's stars have emphasized that this is a player-led team, and Collins is a huge part of that. Rivers said she enjoys playing with the sixth-year graduate forward, partially because of the energy she brings to the game. When the Pack's point guard makes a big play, she's inclined to brush it off, but Collins' excitement on the court validates those game-changing moments. That means a lot to Rivers. "She's a great teammate," Rivers said. "She's a great friend." — Ethan McDowell STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH GRADUATE FORWARD MIMI COLLINS Heading into the final weeks of the regular season, Collins was averaging 11.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the 21-3 Wolfpack. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS