Jones drops 10, No. 4 NC State women rock Hurricanes, 78-47

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Elissa Cunane scored 13 of her 18 points during No. 4 North Carolina State’s explosive first quarter, and the Wolfpack beat Miami 78-47 on Sunday.

Kai Crutchfield added 14 points and Jakia Brown-Turner and Kayla Jones each had 10 points for N.C. State (8-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Cunane, a junior center, hit three 3-pointers in a span of about 5 1/2 minutes of the first quarter. The Wolfpack led 31-11 after the first 10 minutes.

Kelsey Marshall scored 14 points to lead Miami (4-2, 1-2), which was playing its first road game.

The Wolfpack bolted to a 16-8 lead in the first five minutes followed by an 8-0 run across the next two minutes. Four N.C. State players hit 3s, and the Wolfpack went 8 of 11 from long range in the first 12 minutes.

The margin grew to 48-16 at halftime, the Wolfpack’s largest lead at the break this season. Miami shot 20.7% from the floor as N.C. State allowed its fewest points in a half.

This game, originally scheduled for Feb. 4, was moved up on the schedule when both teams had opponents unavailable because of coronavirus issues.

BIG PICTURE

Miami: The Hurricanes entered the game with the ACC’s top mark in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot 21.1%. They hadn’t given up more than eight 3s in any game this season. The Wolfpack ended up 10 of 25 from long range.

N.C. State: Brown-Turner might be the Wolfpack’s answer to slow starts that bothered the team in several earlier games. She has a total of 22 first-quarter points in a pair of ACC home victories during the past week. She scored eight points in barely more than six minutes Sunday.

UP NEXT

Miami: Home vs. Notre Dame on Dec. 31.

N.C. State: At Georgia Tech on Dec. 31.

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