Monday, Jan. 3 7:30pm ET
Lewis connects on five of eight 3s
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- No. 3 North Carolina State showed off a new offensive weapon Monday night.

Tynesha Lewis had her best shooting night of the season, connecting on five of eight 3-pointers for 20 points to lead the Wolfpack to a 79-72 win over No. 9 North Carolina on Monday night.

Amy Simpson
North Carolina State's Amy Simpson gets stuck between Leah Sharp, left, Juana Brown, center, and Nikki Teasley.

Monica Bates, who averages 5.8 points by working mostly inside, was 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and finished with 19 points for N.C. State (12-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).

"I've said all along that one of the main strengths of this team is its balance on offense. We know we can give the ball to any person and that person won't hesitate to shoot," coach Kay Yow said.

Kaayla Chones picked up 13 points and 20 rebounds, helping N.C. State to a 49-37 advantage on the boards. Summer Erb had 13 points and nine rebounds.

LaQuanda Barksdale and Nikki Teasley each scored 17 points for North Carolina (9-3, 1-1). Leah Sharp added 12.

Bates and Lewis each hit three 3-pointers in the first half, pacing the Wolfpack to a 45-30 halftime lead.

"That was a big surprise," Barksdale said. "We really didn't expect all these different players to score from so many different places."

The Tar Heels took advantage of N.C. State's sloppy 10-for-24 shooting and 14 turnovers in the second half to close the gap.

"We hit a span there in the second half where I honestly think we were just trying not to lose," Yow said. "That's the first time this year I've seen us do that."

North Carolina closed within six on Sharp's final 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play.

But the Wolfpack used its superior height to get a string of offensive rebounds off free throw misses and made 5-of-14 from the line in the last 38 seconds to ice the win.

"Rebounds were a big key," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "They're very balanced, very balanced. We needed to have a complete package out there to have a chance."

Hatchell hasn't beaten N.C. State since getting her 500th career win with a 67-64 defeat of the Wolfpack in 1998.
 


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