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 RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Kay Yow hugged her players as photographers took shot after shot. Then North Carolina State's coach turned to the fans, smiled and triumphantly extended both arms to hold up a Wolfpack hand gesture. The fans responded by giving her a standing ovation as she left the court. It was truly a moment to savor for the Hall of Fame coach and her fight-to-the-finish Wolfpack.
Khadijah Whittington scored 15 of her career-high 23 points after halftime while pulling down 11 rebounds. Shayla Fields knocked down a 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime shortly after missing key free throws late in regulation. And when it was over, the Wolfpack had held off Baylor 78-72 on Tuesday night to earn Yow's first trip to the NCAA tournament's round of 16 in six years.
It certainly wasn't easy for N.C. State (25-9), the fourth seed in the Fresno Regional. The Wolfpack bounced back after blowing an 11-point lead midway through the second half, then evaded what would have been a crushing loss in front of its home fans when Bernice Mosby missed a shot on the final play of regulation.
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