NC State women’s basketball coach Wes Moore said he was proud of the overall team effort that produced 23 overall wins, 12 in the ACC – the most in a single season since 1998’s Final Four squad – a first-ever victory over then No. 2-ranked Notre Dame and, four days later, a huge road win at then No. 6-ranked Florida State, making NC State the only other team beside UConn to beat both the Irish and Seminoles this season.
Related link: A season to remember for women's basketball
“I’m proud of the way this team regrouped after Christmas,” he explained. “We overcame some early adversity. That Christmas break came at a good time because we were all frustrated. Then, I’d been talking up the Notre Dame game, being our first ACC game, at home, in the new Reynolds – so for our kids to step up and win that game, then go and win at FSU, just said a lot about their character.”
While acknowledging that those key victories, plus beating Louisville on its home floor on a last-second senior guard Miah Spencer shot in overtime; Duke for a third consecutive time; and avenging the early loss to North Carolina are prime memories, all four seniors, a group that includes guard Dominique Wilson, guard Ashley Williams and forward Jennifer Mathurin, said the outpouring of support from Pack fans, who packed Reynolds Coliseum to its renovated rafters and turned it into one of the loudest venues in the ACC, is the most overwhelming memory of their final season.
“They showed up and were much more involved, especially the students,” Mathurin said. “They were talking about games, or the team, or me individually, and just seemed much more involved in women’s basketball this year.”
She also noted that the coaches’ efforts in distributing pizza and doughnuts between classes may have also helped attendance.
“We had one of the toughest starting schedule in the ACC,” Spencer said, noting the Pack opened the conference slate with Notre Dame, Florida State and Miami, all ranked in the top-15. “Those games prepared us and set the tone for the rest of the season. We did what we said we were going to do. I remember sitting at Sammy’s last year [for the 2016 NCAA selection show], and how embarrassing it was for us not to get called. We all said that’s not going to happen this year. We had to take it upon ourselves, and we did.”
The Pack’s senior quartet also was unanimous in their feeling that the past four years would be remembered, not so much for the wins and losses, or records set, but in how they impacted them personally.
“It’s been a life lesson, kind of, just being an underdog and proving people wrong,” Wilson said.
“I’ve had individual and team highs and lows,” added Williams, who with Mathurin was awarded an NCAA post-graduate scholarship, “but I think my biggest takeaway is how I grew as a person, through the experiences of being with the people I was surrounded by, both coaches and teammates. I’m forever going to be thankful for that.”
Mathurin, the first Canadian recruited by NC State, not only had to adjust to a new culture, but the loss of three family members during her time in Raleigh.
“It’s really forged my character, having been through what I’ve been through while I was here and still finishing with a degree in my hands, knowing I have a future and will be able to do something,” she said.
Spencer, who ends her career fourth all-time in assists (496) and 12th in points scored (1,585), is the only player in the 43-year history of the program with at least 1,500 points and 400 assists. She spoke for her teammates in pointing out another accomplishment of this class.
“None of us was a top recruit out of high school,” she noted. “Just to be where we are today, at an ACC school that finished fourth in the conference is really a blessing because nobody probably expected us to be here.
“It hasn’t been perfect, but I’m glad this is the path I chose, and I’m just appreciative of all the people here that have been such a big part of my life. Being at NC State was a blessing.”
Though no NC State player was selected in the WNBA draft, Spencer was picked up by the Phoenix Mercury for their training camp roster, while Wilson and Mathurin are exploring prospects in Europe, and Williams is pursuing a graduate assistant position at Indiana.
Moore will have nine returning veterans, including Nelson, the lone returning starter, plus redshirt freshman guard Kaila Ealy, sophomore forward DD Rogers and freshman guard Aislinn “Ace” Konig, the three with the most playing time after this year’s starters.
Arizona State transfer Armani Hawkins and incoming freshmen Kai Crutchfield and Layla Jones, both recently named to the All-USA North Carolina team, will also help to maintain what Moore feels is a strong start to the goal he stated on being hired in 2013: to bring NC State back to national relevance in women’s basketball.
“I’m excited about next season,” he said. “Maybe I’m nuts, but those young kids have some talent — they just have to grow up and toughen up. Miah and Dom weren’t ranked high by recruiting services, but they don’t measure heart and mental and physical toughness.
“I reminded them that those four seniors were usually out on the court getting shots up before I walked in for practice and were usually the last ones to leave. They paid their dues, and hopefully these kids will realize it’s up to them now to take on that ownership.
“I think we’re on track. Hopefully what this team did this year, the big ACC wins, beating four top-15 teams, a lot of highly thought-of recruits had a chance to see that and see where we’re headed. There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’re getting closer.”
“I think we brought a toughness to this program,” Spencer said.
Added Williams, “I think we set a good example as far as work ethic and commitment, and the toughness it takes to win in the ACC. We’ve proven that NC State can beat anyone.”
Wilson, in repeating a quote that had become a mantra for this year’s departing seniors, summed up the legacy she hopes she and her teammates have left through this record-setting winter.
“Know what you need to do to write your own stories,” she said. “Don’t let anyone write them for you.”
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