Women’s 2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: #4 Indiana defeats #1 NC State 73-70 (3-27-21)

By: LaMonte Thomas

Headline Photo Credit: NCAA

The Lady Hoosiers of Indiana have been stellar defensively as they took on the number one seeded NC State lady Woofpack. They allowed a combined 80 points to VCU and Belmont in the first two rounds, but Jada Boyd and crew were on a mission from the jump. Boyd scored the game’s first seven points for NC State, which set the tone for a game of runs. Indiana stormed back with a 9-0 run to take the lead 9-7, followed by a 11-0 from NC State. The lady wolfpack led 22-14 over Indiana after the first quarter, followed by a 10-2 run by the hoosiers to tie the game at 24. Late buckets at the end of the half including a shot clock beating hook by Mackenzie Holmes gave NC State the lead at half 34-33. 

The third quarter was a shock to NC State, as they had been +22  in third quarters thus far in the tournament; Indiana came out on a 13-2 run to widen that lead 47-35. They stayed resilient in driving to the basket and led going into the 4th quarter 58-48. The lead would grow to 13 before Jada Boyd and the Wolfpack would claw back, closing the gap to two points with a minute to play. Indiana’s Ali Patberg would make one of two free throws, bringing their lead to 73-70. NC State’s last hope bounced off the backboard as Elisa Cunane’s heave was off the mark, landing Indiana their first elite 8 appearance in the NCAA tournament.