#2 NC State Makes Trip to Pitt for ACC Opener

GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | ACC NETWORK

RALEIGH – Second-ranked NC State women's basketball (8-1) steps into league play on Friday night when it visits Pitt (8-2) for its 2021-22 ACC opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. from the Petersen Events Center, and the game will be televised nationally on the ACC Network.

A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD
• Be the 975th win in program history (974-475)
• Be head coach Wes Moore's 757th career win (756-235)
• Be Moore's 199th win at NC State (198-66)
• Be Moore's 90th ACC win with the Wolfpack (89-39)
• Be NC State's ninth win in a row
• Mark the Wolfpack's sixth season in a row opening ACC play with a victory
• Extend the Wolfpack's winning streak against Pitt to seven games

NOTING THE WOLFPACK (8-1)
• Both the ACC's head coaches and blue ribbon panel selected the Wolfpack as the preseason favorite to win the league. NC State received first-place votes from all 14 of the other head coaches in the conference.
• NC State is on an eight-game winning streak after dropping its Nov. 9 season opener to top-ranked South Carolina.
• NC State moved up three spots in the Nov. 29 release of the Associated Press Top 25 to land in a tie with UConn for No. 2. The Wolfpack then moved into sole possession of No. 2 in the Dec. 6 release of the AP rankings.
• Through nine games, the Wolfpack is nationally ranked:
  3rd in three-point percentage (.412)
8th in field-goal percentage (.482)
  11th in scoring margin (+23.6)
  14th in rebound margin (+12.4)
  25th in defensive rebounds per game (30.1)
29th in scoring offense (78.4)
30th in fewest turnovers per game (13.2)
• NC State's overall (.483) and three-point (.412) shooting percentages both lead the ACC, and the team is second in the league in scoring margin (+23.6), assist-turnover ratio (1.14) and fewest turnovers per game (13.2).
• Diamond Johnson leads the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game, and Elissa Cunane joins her in averaging double figures with 12.7 per game. Both players rank in the top 18 in the league in scoring. They are shooting 49.5 percent and 53.2 percent, respectively, this season, and Johnson ranks seventh in the ACC in field goal percentage (minimum 5 FGM/G).
• Five players are averaging 8+ points and at least 15 minutes per game through nine balanced scoring outings.

ACC ACTION
• Since the league officially started regular-season conference play in 1977-78, NC State is 30-14 all-time in its first games against ACC opponents.
• The Wolfpack is 6-2 in ACC openers under the leadership of Coach Moore. NC State has won five league openers in a row in a streak that started with an upset over No. 2 Notre Dame during the 2016- 17 campaign.
• Friday marks the Pack's third season in a row opening conference play on the road.
• NC State has won its last eight games played against conference opponents, with that mark including three 2021 ACC Tournament victories. That streak started with an 86-65 decision over Clemson on Feb. 11, 2021.

SERIES HISTORY (NC State leads 8-2)
• Friday marks the 11th meeting between NC State and Pitt. The teams have played each other once every season since the Panthers joined the ACC ahead of 2013-14.
• The Wolfpack has won six games in a row against the Panthers, with Pitt's last victory over NC State coming in February of 2015. That Panther win occurred inside of Reynolds Coliseum.
• NC State is 4-0 all-time when playing on Pitt's home court.
• The Wolfpack has won each of the last three games against Pitt by at least 29 points, averaging out to a +33 margin between those outings.
• The teams last met on Feb. 25, 2021 for NC State's 2020-21 home finale. NC State won by an 83-53 score and set the program single- game record for three pointers made, with eight players contributing to the 16 knocked down on the day.

RECORD BOOK REPORT
As this roster's leader in career points scored at NC State (1,476), Cunane is looking to crack into the program's all-time top 15 in scoring (1,538). In addition to Cunane's growing scoring total, a look at some other upcoming record book milestones:

Career Free Throws Made (program record is 428)
1) 428 - Miah Spencer (2014-17)
2) 425 - Elissa Cunane

Career Three Pointers Made (program record is 315)
9) 162 - Shayla Fields (2006-09)
10) 144 - Jennifer Mathurin (2014-17)
11) 143 - Kai Crutchfield

Career Rebounds (program record is 1,245)
10) 832 - Kody Burke (2010-14)
11) 794 - Chelsea Nelson (2015-18)
12) 781 - Elissa Cunane

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Players Mentioned

Kai Crutchfield

Elissa Cunane

Diamond Johnson