No. 8 NC State stays perfect, tops Virginia Tech 70-61 in OT
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Kiara Leslie scored 25 points and Aislinn Konig made a go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime as No. 8 North Carolina State stayed perfect, topping Virginia Tech 70-61 on Sunday.
Konig sprinted across the baseline to get open in the corner for a 3 with 2:18 left in OT, giving the Wolfpack a 64-61 advantage. Elissa Cunane added a pair of free throws 43 seconds later to extend the advantage to five points as N.C. State (18-0, 5-0 ACC) maintained its status as the only undefeated Division I team - women's or men's - in the nation.
Konig made five 3s and scored 20 points.
Virginia Tech (13-5, 0-5) missed a chance to steal a win at the end of regulation, and lost its fifth in a row.
The Hokies trailed 59-58 with 9 seconds left, but Taylor Emery swiped an inbounds pass and was fouled driving to the basket. She made her first free throw to tie it, but missed the second try. Erika Cassell's shot at the regulation buzzer for the Wolfpack was off.
Trinity Baptise shot 3-for-4 from 3-point range and scored 13 points as Virginia Tech used a barrage of 3s to stay close. The Hokies made 11 of 24 from behind the arc against an N.C. State defense that held its first 17 opponents to just 31.2 percent shooting from 3-point range.
BIG PICTURE
Virginia Tech: Despite a strong start, the Hokies fell to 0-5 in ACC play after opening the season 13-0 against nonconference opponents. But Virginia Tech can take some solace in another strong performance against a ranked team; the Hokies also lost in overtime to Syracuse.
N.C. State: Trailing 16-13 at the end of the first quarter wasn't exactly the way N.C. State planned to start against an opponent that had lost four straight games to open ACC play. The Wolfpack's successful start in conference play has come mostly against opponents near the bottom of the ACC standings, which means N.C. State has bigger challenges and will need to play better in the weeks to come.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech: Returns home to meet North Carolina on Thursday night.
N.C. State: Plays host to Clemson on Thursday night.