Kayla Jones healthy as No. 1 seed Wolfpack women begin NCAA tourney quest – Salisbury Post

By MITCHELL NORTHAM

Connected Press

RALEIGH — Kayla Jones and North Carolina State are particularly in which they expected to be moving into the women’s NCAA Match. The intention now is riding the Wolfpack’s next straight No. 1 seed to the program’s deepest postseason push in decades.

“I truly feel like we’re not accomplished,” said Jones, a fifth-yr ahead. “We have to continue on to do the job tough. No team is going to consider us lightly. We have to toss the to start with punch each and every game.”

N.C. Point out (29-3) hosts 16th-seeded Longwood on Saturday in the Bridgeport Location, while No. 8 seed Washington Point out and No. 9 seed Kansas State also participate in in Raleigh.

So considerably, Wes Moore’s squad has checked all the boxes. The Wolfpack swept the Atlantic Coastline Conference’s common-time and tournament championships — the latter marking a 3rd straight title – and used all time in the leading 5 of the AP Top 25 women’s poll.

Jones said in the preseason that the purpose had to be greater than just profitable a different ACC title and introducing she was “tired of going to the Sweet 16.” Now’s the time to make very good on that, with the Wolfpack getting reached the Last Four only in 1998 less than late Corridor of Famer Kay Yow.

For the to start with time amid the Wolfpack’s existing 3-12 months ACC reign, they’ll host their to start with- and second- round online games at dwelling. They were being set to host in 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the event, while final year’s match was in the Texas bubble.

“I can say I’m satisfied to not be in the bubble. That sucked,” Jones explained. “We appreciate Wolfpack country. I desired to tweet out and say, ‘Can you please follow us everywhere you go we go?’ Their support and electricity is ridiculous. It pushes us, for confident.”

Jones’ health and fitness is key for the Wolfpack. The 6-foot-1 forward went down with a torn patella tendon in past year’s initially-round sport, and N.C. Point out fell without the need of her in the Sweet 16.

Moore has been conservative with Jones’ utilization, as she’s sixth on the crew in participating in time with 20.4 minutes for each match. Nevertheless, Jones has been helpful as a scorer, rebounder and outdoors shooter. She has the fourth-greatest offensive ranking nationally with a 132.1 mark, and she ranks 25th by scoring 1.25 factors for each engage in, in accordance to HerHoopStats.

“She’s type of a glue participant. She tends to make everyone all over her far better. She delivers energy,” Moore reported. “She delivers a whole lot to the desk. And, a lot of items — if you really don’t look at film or regardless of what — you may well not see.”

N.C. State’s first hurdle will be towards the Lancers (22-11), which beat Mount St. Mary’s in the To start with Four. The Wolfpack will have to account for Lancers’ ahead Akila Smith, who racked up 32 points and 13 boards Thursday.

CUNANE Ok

N.C. Point out star Elissa Cunane appears to be all set for the NCAAs.

The 6-foot-5 senior tweaked her left ankle in the ACC Event final versus Miami virtually two months ago. Moore claims Cunane “didn’t really do a full lot” of training until eventually this 7 days, but explained she’s “moving fairly well” now.

Cunane was a total participant in Friday’s practice, but wore an ankle wrap. She was named an Involved Press second-staff All-American before this 7 days, marking the third straight calendar year she experienced designed the second or third group.

SLOWING LEE

The other matchup marks only the 3rd time Washington Condition (19-10) has built the tournament.

Under the direction of fourth-year coach Kamie Ethridge – who gained a NCAA championship as a player with Texas in 1986 – the Cougars are browsing for their initially match get. To seize it, they ought to sluggish 6-6 middle Ayoka Lee, a second-crew AP All-American for Kansas Condition (19-12).

“I feel they could really toss nearly anything at us, but I never think it would be something that we have not noticed ahead of or something that we just can’t make an adjustment to,” Lee explained.

Lee averages 22.4 details, 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks this calendar year. She is seventh in the country in scoring, and set a Division I women’s file with 61 points in a acquire around Oklahoma in January.

“We haven’t noticed anybody like (Lee), and definitely have not found any one that scored 61 on an individual,” Ethridge reported. “We’re not serious big, so it is a problem. We have to figure out means to make lifetime hard for her.”

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More AP women’s university basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-faculty-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-leading-25-womens-higher education-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Major25