Women’s college basketball: 4th place at NC State rallies from 16 to win Boston College

BOSTON – North Carolina striker Kayla Jones was thrown on her back, out of breath, after a tray that would have reduced Boston College’s 16-point lead to four, with less than three minutes to go.

“When she made an accusation, I said, ‘My God’. I was gassed, ”said Jones. “I’m glad they changed that.”

After a conversation between the referees, the decision was changed to a blocking foul and the basket was counted. Jones missed the free throw, but hit a 3-point basket after Wolfpack got the rebound and the No. 4 NC State was back on its way to a 75-69 victory over BC on Sunday.

“As we sometimes say, ‘That baby was ugly, but it’s ours,’” said Wolfpack coach Wes Moore. “We are happy to leave here with a victory.”

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Jones scored 25 points and Elissa Cunane had 23 points with 15 rebounds on Sunday, while Wolfpack (6-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored 25 of the last 29 points of the game to remain undefeated. Jones had 11 points – including nine in a row when Wolfpack reduced the double-digit deficit to one point – and Cunane had eight rebounds in the fourth period.

“This league is difficult … our team needs to know that. I hope we can learn from that, ”said Moore. “Getting out of here with a victory and still being able to learn from it will be a good thing.”

Makayla Dickens scored 20 points, and Cam Swartz and Marnelle Garraud had 15 each for BC (4-2, 0-2 ACC). The eagles made only two baskets in the fourth period, while making six turns.

Boston College led in all but the first basket and got their biggest advantage, 65-49, at the start of the fourth period, before Wolfpack had eight consecutive points. After a Taylor Soule tray with 4:44 left, NC State scored the next 15 points, taking the lead with 1:25 to play in a pair of free throws by Jakia Brown-Turner.

INFLECTION POINT

The BC led 67-61 with three minutes left, when Wolfpack’s owner Raina Perez deflected a pass to Swartz in front of the Eagles’ bench, knocking her down in the process. BC coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee defended a foul while the game went the other way.

Under the other basket, Jones headed for a tray that was initially discarded as a lack of cargo. After the referees discussed the matter, they decided that Dickens’ feet were in the circle and that it was a blocking fault.

Jones’ 3-point basket made it a five-point possession and a one-point game.

BIG PICTURE

NC State: After a winning streak of 30, 40 and 50 points over teams like North Florida and Elon, Wolfpack won No. 5 in South Carolina for a quality win. But a tight victory over the unclassified BC may be an indication that the ACC will present a more difficult challenge for the NC State.

Boston College: Starting the ACC game with a loss to Georgia Tech could have signaled a setback this season. Instead, the Eagles showed that they can keep the best teams in the league.

NEXT

NC State: Hosts Wake Forest on Thursday night.

Boston College: Hosts Syracuse on Sunday.

This article was written by Jimmy Golen of The Associated Press and was legally licensed by the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Direct all licensing questions to [email protected].

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