RALEIGH — The local college basketball teams are no stranger to national rankings, and they are used to their share of the spotlight. But the spotlight has shifted, and there is a new sheriff in town.

Is it the Duke Blue Devils? No. How about the Carolina Tarheels? Nope. Think Red. TheWolfpack womenof N.C. State are No. 3 in the country.

With banners in place, Reynolds Coliseum is feeling more like home to the Pack women, and they are defending their territory fiercely. They are enjoying their best start in school history at 14-0.

Wolfpack senior center Summer Erb says she thinks the team is going to have some fun this year.

"We don't think about it too much really," Erb said. "We go out and work hard and play hard, and we have fun together."

This week, two players were named ACC Rookie and Player of the Week, the first time they have come from the same team.

Coach Kay Yow says, in 35 years of coaching, she has never seen all the players share a common cause and direction until now.

"It's exciting when that happens," Yow says. "This is the team I have this year. So definitely, they excite me every time I come out on the court."

The fans are picking up on it. Attendance has been increasing this year to nearly 2,100 people per game.

"It is nice," Erb said. "For a couple of years, we were struggling to get some attention. We come into our games now, and we've got fans on both sides of the arena."

This is also a special year for Coach Yow. It is her25th year at N.C. State, and the players want her to end it on top.

"That's our goal. Nothing else is satisfactory for us," said junior guard Tynesha Lewis. "It's great to be No. 3, but at the end of the season, it would be even greater to be No. 1."

The Pack women take on ACC rival Clemson Thursday. A win would tie them for most consecutive wins in team history at 15.

On February 12, Coach Yow will be honored for her 25 years with the team.