LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Markeisha Gatling scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the second half to lead N.C. State to a 72-68 win over Arizona State at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout.
Gatling was one of five Wolfpack players -- Krystal Barrett and Len’Nique Brown (12 points each), Marissa Kastanek (11 points) and Kody Burke (10 points) -- who scored in double figures.
Joy Burke, who one day earlier tied her career high in scoring (14 points) and pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds, had her first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Sun Devils (1-3). Also scoring in double figures for the Sun Devils, who led by as many 12 points in the first half, was Micaela Pickens who had 10 points.
N.C. State (5-1), which shot 52 percent from the floor in the second half, took its first lead of the game when Brown connected on a pair of free throws to give the Wolfpack a 41-40 lead with 15:29 left. Brown’s free throws were part of a 14-3 run N.C. State would use to take a 51-43 lead with 10:15 left.
The Sun Devils would answer N.C. State’s run with a 12-1 run of their own to take a 55-52 advantage. Burke and Arnecia Hawkins each scored four points during the scoring burst.
A 3-pointer by Brown started an 8-2 N.C. State run, which Barrett finished with a layup to give the Wolfpack a 63-57 lead with 3:43 left.
N.C. State would eventually extend its lead to seven, 69-62, before the Sun Devils would once again answer as Pickens and Hawkins knocked down a pair of triples to get ASU within two within two, 70-68 with 40 seconds left.
ASU was unable to come up with a defensive stop on the opposite end as Brown hit a jumper with 11 seconds to go to give the Wolfpack a 72-68 lead.
Also contributing for the Sun Devils on Saturday were Janae Fulcher (nine points, six rebounds) and Promise Amukamara (eight points, five rebounds). ASU held the advantage in bench points (24-16) led by Hawkins and Jada Blackwell, who scored seven points each.
The Sun Devils led by as many as 12 in the first half, however N.C. State closed the half with a 13-3 run to cut ASU’s lead to 33-32 at the half.
Fulcher (seven points) and Amukamara (six points) combined to score 13 points in the first half while Eliza Normen and Haley Videckis came off the bench to score five points each.
The Sun Devils close out play at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout tomorrow when they take on Florida at noon PT/1 p.m. MT. Sunday’s game can be heard live on 1440 AM KAZG.
