news-record.com

Why Miami won

The Hurricanes built a 26-7 lead in the first half, let the Wolfpack tie the game in the second half, but never let N.C. State get ahead. Miami had the answer every time the Wolfpack made a run and were consistently able to keep a small margin. The Hurricane's most important run came after N.C. State cut the lead to 74-73 with 6:35 to play. Miami then outscored the Wolfpack 15-9 over the next 6 minutes.

Why N.C. State lost

For the second straight night, the Wolfpack came out flat and fell behind early. This time, N.C. State did not make up for its early mistakes. The Wolfpack tied the game at 60 with 12:33 to play in the second half, but looked tired in the closing minutes.

Records

Miami 27-3, N. C. State 14-17

Play of the game

As soon as N.C. State tied the game at 60, the Hurricanes' Riquna Williams gave her team the lead right back, driving into the lane and scoring on a nifty scoop with two N.C. State defenders around her. The Wolfpack never tied it again.

The key player

After scoring five points in the first half, Williams finished with 22 points and six assists. In the final 7 minutes, she scored 10 points and only missed two free throws.

What they're saying

"I was very clear with my team. If we get a lead, this is the last team in the world you want to play for tomorrow."

— Miami coach Katie Meier, talking about the Wolfpack's ability to come from behind

"They have really defined our program this year; defined it in a positive way -- N.C. State is going to fight."

— N.C State coach Kellie Harper

Noting the game

Miami had not won an ACC Tournament game since 2005, its first season in the league. ... Williams (22 points) and Shenise Johnson (25), Miami's two first-team All-ACC players, combined for 47 points and became the first teammates to each score 20 points in an ACC Tournament game since Maryland's Marissa Coleman and Christy Toliver did it in the 2009 championship game.

N.C. STATE (14-17) — Holston 12-17 1-4 25, Burke 1-7 3-4 5, White 6-12 6-7 18, Goodwin-Coleman 2-6 1-1 5, Kastanek 3-14 0-1 7, Williams 3-5 0-0 8, Griffin 0-0 0-0 0, Strachan 7-11 2-2 17. Totals 34-72 13-19 85.

MIAMI (27-3) — Stroman 5-6 6-8 16, Bullock 3-3 0-0 6, R. Williams 7-19 7-10 22, Yderstrom 4-12 4-6 15, Johnson 10-20 1-1 25, Gardner 0-1 0-0 0, S. Williams 1-3 1-3 3, Brown 1-4 0-0 2, Archer 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 33-70 19-28 93.

Halftime—Miami 46-34.

3-point goals—N.C. State 4-12 (Williams 2-3, Strachan 1-3, Kastanek 1-3, Burke 0-1, Goodwin-Coleman 0-2), Miami 8-24 (Johnson 4-5, Yderstrom 3-10, R. Williams 1-9).

Fouled out—Goodwin-Coleman.

Rebounds—N.C. State 42 (Holston 11), Miami 40 (Johnson 13).

Assists—N.C. State 11 (White 6), Miami 17 (R. Williams 6).

Total fouls—N.C. State 22, Miami 17.