The Virginia women’s basketball team shot 51 percent from the field and knocked down 10 of 20 3-pointers Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C. The Cavaliers forced No. 14 NC State into 18 turnovers, scoring 17 points while yielding just two between the 12:21 and 6:53 marks of the second half — at one point turning a six-point deficit into a nine-point lead.
NC State senior forward Kody Burke, however, struck the last blow in a back-and-forth final 2:29, sinking a long-range jump-shot to put her team in front, 68-66, with 11 seconds to play. Virginia sophomore guard Faith Randolph tried to answer Burke on the other end, but her shot bounced off the front of the rim. Redshirt senior guard Lexie Gerson was still fighting for the rebound as time ran out.
Virginia (13-14, 6-8 ACC) took its first and only lead of the first half on Gerson’s three-pointer two minutes after tipoff, setting the score at 3-2. NC State (23-5, 10-4 ACC) scored the game’s next six points and remained out in front until senior guard Kelsey Wolfe hit from distance for a 50-all tie with 10:41 to go in the second half.
Virginia had NC State reeling late, leading 61-56 with 2:30 to go. NC State, however, tied the game at 61 on freshman guard Miah Spencer’s triple with 1:28 remaining. Virginia senior guard Ataira Franklin made one of two from the line, but Wolfpack senior center Markeisha Gatling countered with a jumper. Franklin nailed two more free throws, but Gatling hit a go-ahead layup with 33 seconds to go. Wolfe put Virginia in front, 65-64, just 10 seconds later, setting up Burke’s big shot.
Randolph led Virginia with 15 points, tying Franklin, and Gerson played all 40 minutes, finishing with 11 points and four steals. Gatling shined for NC State, posting 22 points and 11 rebounds.
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