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Raina Perez. Raina Perez! Many would simply call it a career after hitting a jumper to win the ACC tournament, but Raina was not done with iconic moments. She has accounted for two big-time plays in NC State women’s basketball history, and she’s only been here two years.
I’m proud of her, and proud of all of the veterans on this team—they didn’t play great at the offensive end, but they never panicked, and when the opportunity presented itself, they took it. Kai Crutchfield was huge in the fourth quarter. Elissa Cunane was a steadying presence throughout. Kayla Jones’ offensive board and put-back made the last 20 seconds possible.
It’s fitting that they defined a milestone win not only for themselves but for the program that they’ve brought back to national relevancy. Their hard work is why NC State is here, and they were determined not to let that legacy conclude on Saturday afternoon.
It pays to have great talent, sure. And these players are all really talented. But it means so much to have experience, too, and today they showed why.
ALL OF US RIGHT NOW ... #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/VhPMK4e24K
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 26, 2022
Elissa’s mom also had an elite fourth quarter performance pic.twitter.com/zj0MGEFcIe
— Steven (@akulawolf) March 26, 2022
She REALLY did that.#GoPack // @PerezRaina pic.twitter.com/2gw5OUgpTF
— #3 NC State WBB (@PackWomensBball) March 26, 2022
THE PACK TAKES THE LEAD!@PerezRaina gets a steal and scores !#MarchMadness x @PackWomensBball pic.twitter.com/3HvM4fodKH
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 26, 2022
NC State gets the stop and is just 1.5 seconds left from punching its ticket to the Elite Eight. pic.twitter.com/nxatyItmxh
— Technician Sports (@TechSports) March 26, 2022
Raina Perez ices it from the free throw line and the Wolfpack are still dancing! pic.twitter.com/ATi43xJBqD
— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) March 26, 2022
MADNESS FROM BRIDGEPORT
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 26, 2022
Raina Perez's steal & score in the final minute gave the top-seeded @PackWomensBball their first lead since the second quarter and helped them take down Notre Dame 66-63 to make the second Elite Eight in school history.
️: @LanceMedow & @Kim_Adams1 pic.twitter.com/tMeiFNqAWr
Raina Perez!!!
— Jakobi Meyers (@jkbmyrs5) March 26, 2022
PEREZZZZZZZ
— Alim McNeill (@AlimMcneill) March 26, 2022
Keep it going ❤️@PackWomensBball
— Isaiah Moore (@_zaynlm) March 26, 2022
Wes Moore: "What can you say about Raina? Beyoncé’s big, but Raina blows her away."
— Hannah Withiam (@HannahWithiam) March 26, 2022
'Nuff said
"That show Everybody Loves Raymond, that's now Everybody Loves Raina." -- Wes Moore
— Alec Sawyer (@AlecSawyer) March 26, 2022