RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The 19th-ranked North Carolina State women’s basketball team defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 77-63, Wednesday night at Reynolds Coliseum in the first Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season.
The Yellow Jackets shot 60 percent from the field and out-rebounded NC State 19-7 in the first half. Behind Niesha Butlers 15 first-half points, Tech and NCSU were knotted at 30 at halftime.
But the Wolfpack proved to have too much depth for the Yellow Jackets. Amy Simpson came off the bench in the second half and scored 19 points for NC State, while teammate Carisse Moody scored 15 of her 23 points after the intermission. Tynesha Lewis, who led NC State with 13 points at halftime, finished with 17. Daphne Hutcherson dished 11 assists as NC State improved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in the ACC.
The Yellow Jackets battled through the game, going on a 10-0 run in the first half after falling behind 14-4. Butler, who missed most of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, finished with a season-high 22 points and four steals, but also tallied nine turnovers. Milli Martinez continued to be Tech’s most consistent player, scoring 15 points and grabbing six rebounds. Alex Stewart recorded a career-high five steals.
Georgia Tech fell to 3-2 and 0-1 in the ACC, with both of its losses coming on the road to ranked opponents. The Yellow Jackets play fifth-ranked Georgia Friday at the Cobb Civic Center.
