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GREENSBORO, North Carolina –North Carolina State coach Wes Moore is thrilled to be back in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game as the Wolfpack look to defend their title.
Elissa Cunane had another huge game with 23 points and nine rebounds, and the third-placed Wolfpack had to fight after a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Georgia Tech 66-61 on Saturday in the semifinals.
Moore knows her team will have to play better Sunday against the No.5 Louisville if they hope to repeat. The Cardinals beat Syracuse 72-59 in the other semi-final on Saturday.
“We found a way to win, but I wouldn’t say we click in any way,” Moore said. “We’re going to have to match their intensity, and we’re going to have to perform a little better offensively and hopefully shoot the ball a little better because Louisville is going to score points.
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen had 17 points and five assists for the Yellow Jackets (15-8), who led most of the second half but remained cool in the downturns.
Cunane finished 8 of 13 from the field and helped seal the victory with two clutch free throws with 8.8 seconds left, finishing 7 of 8 from the foul line for NC State (19-2).
“We were doing our best to contain it,” said Georgia Tech forward Lorela Cubaj, who finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. “At the end of the day, we have to do this for 40 minutes. The last four minutes were crucial and she introduced herself.
Georgia Tech closed the first half on a 9-2 run to take a 33-28 lead in the locker room with Cubaj and Lahtinen combining for seven of those points. The Yellow Jackets would take the lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter.
But the Wolfpack didn’t panic, taking the lead with 2:27 left to make 3s from Kai Crutchfield and Jakia Brown-Turner and back-to-back baskets at Cunane’s low post.
“We needed something to trigger our mojo,” Crutchfield said.
Kayla Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Wolfpack.
“I really felt like the first half Georgia Tech played harder than us,” said Moore. “They outclassed us at quick break points, they passed us, they beat us at second chance points. … They just hit us in the mouth and took it from us, and in the second half we competed a lot better. That’s what champions do. They find a way to win.
Georgia Tech coach Nell Fortner said, “I’m really proud of how hard we fought today and gave ourselves a chance to win.”
BIG PICTURE
Georgia Tech: Cubaj has proven difficult to stop at the low post and will be a problem in the NCAA tournament with his range of motion, including a nifty hook stroke. Lahtinen is an excellent goalscorer and has managed 8 of 11 shots from the field. “I think they have a chance to make a run” in the tournament, said Moore.
NC State: Cunane was strong on the inside, but the Wolfpack also got big plays from Crutchfield and Brown-Turner in the pivotal fourth quarter. Both finished with 10 points.
GREAT TOURNAMENT OF CUNANE
Cunane, who grew up near Greensboro, is in the middle of another great ACC tournament. She had a high of 27 points and nine rebounds in a 68-55 win over Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals, logging on 10 of 15 shots from the ground and 7 of 8 from the foul line.
“It’s tournament time so I really stepped up my game,” said Cunane. “I know there aren’t a lot of people out there who can keep me if my teammates give me the ball, and we shot it really well from the outside, so that leaves the middle to be open . “
TIP-INS
NC State beat then-No. 1 ranked Louisville 74-60 last month. … Georgia Tech only shot 3 of 13 from the field. … Georgia Tech has only attempted six free throws in the game.
FOLLOWING
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets will be waiting to see where they rank in the next NCAA tournament after finishing third in the conference regular season standings.
NC State: The Wolfpack are looking for their second straight ACC title on Sunday.
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Follow Steve Reed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SteveReedAP
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More AP Women’s College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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