GREENSBORO, NC – North Carolina coach Wes Moore is thrilled to be back in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, while Wolfpack seeks to defend his title.
Elissa Cunane made another big game with 23 points and nine rebounds, and third-placed Wolfpack had to recover from a 10-point handicap in the fourth period to beat Georgia Tech 66-61 on Saturday in the semifinals.
Moore knows that his team will need to play better on Sunday against Louisville’s No. 5 if they want to repeat themselves. The cardinals defeated Syracuse 72-59 in the other semifinal on Saturday.
“We found a way to win, but I wouldn’t say that we’re clicking at all,” said Moore. “We are going to have to match their intensity, and we are going to have to perform a little better offensively and, hopefully, kick the ball a little better, because Louisville will score points.”
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen had 17 points and five assists for the Yellow Jackets (15-8), who led most of the second half, but cooled down in the final moments.
Cunane finished in 8 of 13 field shots and helped seal the victory with two clutch free throws 8.8 seconds from the end, finishing 7 of 8 from the foul line for NC State (19-2).
“We were doing our best to contain it,” said Georgia Tech striker Lorela Cubaj, who finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. “At the end of the day, we only have to do this for 40 minutes. The last four minutes were crucial and she appeared. “
Georgia Tech closed the first half with a 9-2 run to take a 33-28 lead to the locker room with Cubaj and Lahtinen combining for seven of those points. The Yellow Jackets would increase the lead to 10 at the start of the fourth period.
But Wolfpack didn’t panic, taking the lead with 2:27 left behind, 3s from Kai Crutchfield and Jakia Brown-Turner and consecutive baskets at Cunane’s low post.
“We needed something to wake up our mojo,” said Crutchfield.
Kayla Jones had 12 points and eight rebounds for Wolfpack.
“I really felt that Georgia Tech played harder than us in the first half,” said Moore. “They outperformed us on the break-break points, they outperformed us, they outperformed us on the second chance points. … They just hit us in the mouth and took it to us, and in the second part we fought much better. That’s what champions do. They find a way to win. “
Georgia Tech coach Nell Fortner said: “I am very proud of how much we have fought today and have given ourselves a chance to win.”
BIG PICTURE
Georgia Tech: Cubaj has proved difficult to stop at the lowest post and will be a problem at the NCAA Tournament with its variety of movements, including a beautiful hook shot. Lahtinen is a strong scorer and hit 8 of the 11 pitches. “I think they have a chance to move on” in the tournament, said Moore.
NC State: Cunane was strong on the inside, but Wolfpack also had great plays from Crutchfield and Brown-Turner in the fourth crucial period. Both ended with 10 points.
GREAT TOURNAMENT OF CUNANE
Cunane, who grew up near Greensboro, is in the middle of another incredible ACC tournament. She had the best mark of the game, 27 points and nine rebounds in the 68-55 victory over Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals, hitting 10 of 15 from the floor and hitting 7 of 8 from the foul line.
“It’s tournament time, so I definitely stepped up my game,” said Cunane. “I know that there are not many people out there who can defend me if my teammates are bringing me the ball, and we are kicking really well from the outside, so that leaves the middle to be opened.”
TIP-INS
NC State then hit – No. 1 ranked Louisville at 74-60 last month. … Georgia Tech hit just 3 out of 13 pitches. … Georgia Tech only tried six free throws in the game.
NEXT
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets will wait to know where they will be placed in the NCAA tournament, after finishing third in the regular season qualifying for the conference.
NC State: Wolfpack seeks its second consecutive ACC title on Sunday.
___
Follow Steve Reed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SteveReedAP
___
More female college basketball AP: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25