The N.C. State women's basketball team looks to regroup from a loss to Georgia Tech in its ACC opener on Monday night.
After traveling nearly 5,000 miles to Honolulu, Hawaii, the Wolfpack returned to Reynolds Coliseum to face the Yellow Jackets. Bleary-eyed and jet-lagged, the Pack stumbled to a 76-66 loss, playing in its fourth game in five days.
The Pack staggered after winning the Rainbow Wahine Invitational tournament.
"I think that travel got us," State coach Kellie Harper said in a phone interview on Wednesday. "But I would never use that as an excuse."
The Pack look to avoid an 0-2 start in conference play against the Hurriances – a team that features two of the league's top guards in Shenise Johnson and Riquana Willams.
"Hopefully we will have our legs back under us," said Harper, whose team finished its non-conference schedule with a 10-3 record.
Miami fell to No. 25 North Carolina in its ACC opener. The Hurricanes were picked in the preseason to finish atop the league.
Haper said State, which was decimated by injuries last season, has shown glimpses of its abilities early this season, particularly in wins over TCU, Alabama and No. 24 Vanderbilt. Other times, the Pack has looked asleep on the court, falling to Richmond 72-58.
"We've won some close games," Harper said. "We've got some pieces. We just have to be consistent through conference play."
Edward joined the News & Observer staff in 2004. He is a graduate of American University and Johns Hopkins University. He covers Wake Forest football and women's college basketball for the N&O. Edward is a native of Washington, D.C. He can be reached at 829-4781 or 
Comments
I propose
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 13:24 — gvillegatrThe ACC women get their own blog page separate from the men's. No one other than the hippie duke guy posts anything relative to the blog. Besides, it sends some of the more popular blogs down the list faster.
It's not you EGR, it's me !