Virginia erased an 18-point second-half deficit to force overtime, but two late turnovers, and a missed three at the buzzer, let NC State escape with the 78-76 win on Saturday.
A Kymora Johnson three put the ‘Hoos (14-6, 6-3 ACC) ahead 73-71 with 1:16 to go, and oddly, State (14-6, 7-2 ACC) didn’t make another bucket from the field.
Instead, the Pack went 7-of-8 at the line in the final 58 seconds to take control, around a Jillian Brown three with four seconds left, and the Johnson miss from three at the buzzer, which would have won it.
Johnson finished with 26 points (9-of-23 FG, 6-of-14 3FG, 2-of-2 FT) and nine assists.
Tabitha Amanze scored 14 points (7-of-14 FG) and pulled down five rebounds for Virginia.
NC State’s Zoe Brooks led all players with 37 points (8-of-15 FG, 2-of-2 3FG, 19-of-20 FT).
NCAA resume
Virginia drops to 38 in the NET with the loss, and significantly, the ‘Hoos are 82 in the RPI, which is not going to be good going forward.
Killing the resume right now: an 0-3 record in Quad 1 games, and a 1-2 record in Quad 2.
Eleven of Virginia’s 14 wins are Quad 4s.
That’s the weak nonconference strength of schedule – 127 nationally – at play.
The average NET win is just 211.
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Chris Graham
