Game 22: NC State

Fresh off one of the most exciting victories in recent years, the Terps are back in action tonight against NC State. The Wolfpack enter tonight's game with a record of 9-12 and 1-5 in the ACC. They recently won their first conference game by defeating Virginia Tech. NC State has been playing with a heavy heart though as legendary Coach Kay Yow passed away less than two weeks ago.

Quick Facts:
Common Opponents: UNC (L, 66-75), Florida State (L, 59-64), Duke (L, 58-61), Virginia Tech (W, 57-46)
PPG(Opponents): 60.8 (58.2)
Rebounding (Opponents): 41.6 (40.5)
FG Percentage (Opponents): .375 (.361)
Three FG Percentage (Opponents): .274 (.280)

The Starters:
- Shayla Fields: a 5-9 senior guard. Averages 17.6 points per game and is the primary shooter as she has taken almost 100 shots more than the next person on the team. Shoots .302 from behind the arc. Expected to play the whole games as she rarely gets into foul trouble.
- Nikitta Gartrell: more of a slashing guard. She does most of her damage inside the arc and is third on the team in rebounding.
- Sharnise Beal: a 5-9 junior guard, who has missed eight games this season. She is third in scoring and like Gartrell does most of her damage inside the arc. Although she has made 6 of 15 shots from 3 this season. Not much of a distributor as she has 18 assists in 13 games.
- Lucy Ellison: team's leading rebounder at 6.7 per game. Despite starting every game, rarely shoots the ball and her 62 shots rank seventh on the squad. Has only blocked three shots all year.
- Inga Muciniece: 6-5 center. Taken fewer shots than Ellison, but is second on the team in blocks. Only picked up 10 fouls all year. Either she's a matador or plays some of the best defense in the country. Only at Duke can you find a starter with 10 fouls or less during the year.

Off the Bench:
- Bonae Holston: Freshman forward who is the main inside threat and third in rebounding. Not a great rebounder
- Tia Bell: Local product who is athletic and leads the team in shots blocked. Only shoots .398 percent and rarely from 3.
- Brittany Strachan: Three-point threat off the bench, rarely drives to the bucket.

Keys to the game:
- Guard the perimeter. This is where NC State does most of it's damage
- Attack the inside. NC State's posts are weak and we should be able to score at will.
- Don't let up. NC State isn't a high octane team, they use their defense to keep them in games. If you let them stay around the game gets uncomfortable (see UNC, Duke).
- Control the pace. NC State will slow it down, we need to play fast but smart.

What to watch for:
- A win gives the Terps 30 straight at home.
- Marissa needs 12 points and 12 rebounds to reach third on the scoring list and 1,000 rebounds.
- Laura Harper has her jersey sent to the rafters after the game.

If you can't be at the game because of the weather than you can catch it on ACC Select or WMUC.