Diamond Johnson adds another dimension to NC State women’s basketball
RALEIGH — Diamond Johnson finally got her chance to shine.
The guard from Philadelphia, ranked the No. 6 overall prospect coming out of high school in 2020 by ESPN, has had moments of brilliance since her transfer to NC State from Rutgers last spring.
But nothing like this.
Johnson took control of Thursday’s game against No. 3 Louisville in the fourth quarter and flipped the momentum, turning a season-high 16-point deficit into a nine-point victory for the fourth-ranked Wolfpack (17-2, 8-0).
She scored 14 of her team-high 16 points in the final frame, shooting 5-of-7 from the field in that span, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, as NC State claimed a 68-59 victory in the top-five matchup.
“I never lost my confidence,” she said after the win. “I know who I am. I know what I can do.”
Pressure makes diamonds, after all.
Maybe that’s why she seemed perfectly calm and composed releasing a 3-pointer on a kickout from Elissa Cunane that would sail through the net and give NC State a 55-53 lead with 5:37 remaining. That shot gave the Wolfpack its first advantage since the game was only six minutes old.
“That was the shot that kind of gave her the juice,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “She was the best player on the court in the fourth quarter, there’s no question about it.”
Louisville (15-2, 5-1), riding an NCAA Division I-best 15-game winning streak, led by 16 (47-31) with 4:25 left in the third quarter. The Cardinals still held a 53-41 edge with 8:05 left in the fourth when Johnson hit a 3-pointer to trim the lead to single digits.
After a Cunane block and rebound, Jakia Brown-Turner hit another 3. Cunane pulled down another defensive rebound and Johnson fed Brown-Turner on the break to get within 53-49, and Reynolds Coliseum was booming.
Cunane’s layup and ensuing free throw completed a 14-2 run and set up Johnson’s go-ahead shot.
“We’re trying to do something special,” Johnson said. “We can’t afford no more Ls.”
Box score: No. 4 NC State 68, No. 3 Louisville 59
Louisville dominated for three quarters
For three quarters, Louisville had clobbered the Wolfpack. Everything coach Wes Moore said his team needed to do to challenge the third-ranked Cardinals was falling apart.
His players weren’t making good decisions. They weren’t playing with energy. They weren’t defending or rebounding very well.
Louisville had forced 11 turnovers and pulled down 11 offensive boards by halftime and held a 34-21 lead, allowing NC State to score just six points in the second period.
The Cardinals held most of their ground in the third, but Johnson’s surge led the Wolfpack to a 31-8 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter — against a team that allows an average of just 49.4 points per game, fourth-best in the country.
Johnson’s 3-pointer set off a 17-0 run in which she scored nine points on three triples. By the time the Cardinals managed to find the bottom of the net, NC State had pulled ahead by three points. The Pack would go on another 10-0 run boosted by a pair of mid-court turnovers. Johnson capped that surge with a swerving drive past two defenders for an open layup.
“Diamond hit some unbelievable shots with the coaches over there going, ‘No, no, no ... Nice job,’ ” Moore said.
He’s been telling anyone who would listen that the sophomore guard was a game-changer.
“We recruited Diamond out of high school and we not only knew how great of a player she was, we also knew what kind of person she was.
“It was heartbreaking when we didn’t get her the first time,” he said of losing the recruiting battle to C. Vivian Stringer at Rutgers.
But Johnson’s a welcome addition now, and she's looking like the rock that can put some extra shine on this season for NC State.
“She gives us juice when she comes in and gives us a lift,” Moore said. “She can change the momentum and tonight, she was able to, in a lot of ways, take over the game.”
Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver.com. Don't miss out on our USA TODAY Network team's college sports coverage. Join our Big Four and More group on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State women rally to beat Louisville in Raleigh
