Saturday, Nov. 20 12:00pm ET
Chones scores 14, grabs 10 rebounds
 
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- For a freshman, Kaayla Chones is making her mark quickly.

She followed up her 10-point performance last Sunday against then-No. 4 Rutgers with 14 points and 10 rebounds as North Carolina State (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 9 AP) routed Southern Mississippi 78-43 on Saturday.

"Kaayla did a real good job today coming out in 22 minutes and having a double-double," Wolfpack coach Kay Yow said after the team's home opener in her 25th year at N.C. State. "That is a pretty impressive stat. Somebody is having to play hard when that happens,"

But Chones said she was only thinking about the Wolfpack (2-0) winning.

"I didn't know until Coach Yow said something," Chones explained. "I'm excited, but I'm just glad the team won."

N.C. State got off to a slow start, and Southern Miss (0-1) went ahead 9-8 on Kim Young's 3-pointer with 13:13 to go.

But Chones, who had 10 points in the first half, made two free throws to put the Wolfpack up 10-9 with 11:40 left in the first half. Terah James and Talisha Scates made back-to-back baskets and Lewis hit a 3 to break open the scoring and put N.C. State ahead 17-9.

N.C. State increased its lead to 33-19 on Chones' jumper with 2:20 left in the first half.

After taking a 34-22 lead at halftime, the Wolfpack started the second half with a 12-5 run. Chones got the rebound under the basket and put it back in to put N.C. State ahead 48-27 with 14:51 left in the game.

"We started the game not quite as sharp," Yow said. "They started the second half the way I wanted them to start the first half."

N.C. State continued to press on defense and Southern Miss was unable to mount any kind of rally. The Wolfpack pushed the lead to 62-34 on Amy Simpson's basket with 9:03 to go.

Tynesha Lewis and Summer Erb, the only Wolfpack senior, added 11 points apiece. Christen Greene and Simpson added 10 apiece for N.C. State.

Young was the only Southern Miss player in double figures with 10 points. Jessica Woods had 10 rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Yow said it was difficult to play at home following last Sunday's exciting win over Rutgers at the Women's Tip-Off Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. Only 1,019 fans attended the game at the old Reynolds Coliseum.

"Playing at 12 and not having as many supporters as we'd like, we had a little tougher time getting ready to play our best," she said.

The first meeting ever between the teams opened the N.C. State Wolfpack Women Tournament. N.C. State will play the winner of Saturday's second game between Washington and UNC-Greensboro. The Golden Eagles will play the loser in the consolation game Sunday. 		 


ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard

Southern Mississippi Clubhouse

North Carolina State Clubhouse