Dec. 18, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Kody Burke’s career-high 21 points led North Carolina State to a 66-59 upset win over No. 20 Vanderbilt on Sunday.
Bonae Holston added 15 points and seven rebounds for N.C. State (7-3). Stephanie Holzer led Vanderbilt (10-1) with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Vanderbilt jumped out to a 10-5 lead, with guard Christina Foggie scoring five of those points, but after that, a physical N.C. State team imposed its will.
“They set the tone from the start of the game,” Vanderbilt Coach Melanie Balcomb said. “They were more aggressive, more physical. They took us off our cuts. They outrebounded us. They went to the foul line more than us. In every category, they did more than us.”
The Commodores came into the game leading the NCAA in 3-point shooting. N.C. State Coach Kellie Harper said controlling that was the key to her team’s victory. Vanderbilt hit only six of 18 3-pointers.
“We wanted to take that away from them,” Harper said. “Minus a few breakdowns here and there, I thought we did a good job. The players adjusted and did a good job of being aware. We had tremendous focus most of the game.”
N.C. State scored the final five points of the first half and took a 34-22 lead into intermission. Burke had 17 points in the first half.
Vanderbilt adjusted in the second half, getting the ball inside to center Holzer, who scored 13 points after the break.
“We talked at halftime about playing together better,” Balcomb said.
But Vanderbilt still trailed 49-39 with 10:38 left, when Foggie sat down with four fouls.
“I had talked to her about not putting herself in positions where the ref could or could not make a call,” Balcomb said. “She needed to play; that was a key period. That took us out of our comfort zone. We couldn’t afford our guards to get in foul trouble.”
Foggie returned at the 5 minute mark and hit a pair of 3-pointers, the second making the score 62-59 with 44 seconds remaining. Holston, a 43 percent foul-shooter this season, was fouled with 23 seconds left and made both foul shots. Emili Tasler ended the scoring with two more foul shots.
