RALEIGH, N.C. – Aisha Sheppard tied a school record with eight made 3-pointers Thursday night at No. 9 NC State, but it was not enough to overcome the Wolfpack, as Tech suffered its second consecutive loss to begin ACC play 76-69. The Hokies now stand at 10-3 (0-2) ahead of Sunday's contest vs North Carolina.
NC State improved to 13-0 (2-0).
Tech got off to a hot start with freshman center Elizabeth Kitley settling in and scoring the team's first two buckets, giving the Hokies some momentum that they would carry to a two-point lead at the first media timeout. In total, the Hokies went on an 11-0 run spanning two-and-a-half-minute span.
Midway through the second quarter, the Hokies owned a 14-point lead, their largest. NC State fought back going on a 16-5 run to close the gap before the halftime interval at which point the Hokies lead 33-28.
At the break, Tech was 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, keyed by junior Aisha Sheppard who was 3 for 3.
In the second half, NC State had a 10-5 run in the third to tie the game and from there the Wolfpack were able to take the lead with Kayla Jones triple with 4:41 in the third, a part of a 15-2 run.
State's largest lead in the contest was nine, but Tech stayed close, thanks in part to Sheppard who had a career night. Her eight made 3's set a Tech ACC record, surpassing the seven she made in her freshman season at Notre Dame. Those eight also tied a program record.
Point guard Taja Cole had a solid performance as well scoring 13 points and registering seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Kitley was the other Hokie in double figures with 11 points.
NC State was led by 28 points and nine rebounds from center Elissa Cunane, while Jones recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds and guard Aislinn Konig had 18 points in the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Tech won the battle of the boards 36-33
- State connected on 13 of 17 free throws, while Tech only attempted five.
- The Hokies turned the ball over 19 times, the Wolfpack 11.
GAME NOTES
- Aisha Sheppard scored 10+ points, the 12th time in 13 games this season. She continues to lead the team at 17.4 points per game.
NEXT TIME ON THE HARDWOOD
•Tech will return to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday, January 5 to take on North Carolina on ACC Network Extra. Tipoff for that contest is set for 2 p.m.
•The Hokies are 6-19 all-time against the Tar Heels and fell 81-69 at home in last season's only meeting. This season, the programs will play a home-and-home as they are grouped together in the new ACC 'pod' format with 18 league games.
Gallery: (1/2/2020) 2020 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AT N.C. STATE