NC State
7-0,0-0ACC
#3/4 Colorado
6-1,0-0Pac-12
#10 Pack Beats #3 Colorado for Second Top-Five Win of Season
11/25/2023 3:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Tenth-ranked NC State women's basketball (7-0) picked up its second victory over a top-three opponent this season as it knocked off the third-ranked Colorado Buffaloes (6-1) 78-60 in Saturday afternoon's Paradise Jam finale.
After also defeating No. 2 UConn just 13 days ago, the Wolfpack has defeated two top-three teams in the same season four times in program history. It is the second-shortest span of time between two Wolfpack wins over such teams.
River Baldwin put together the best game of her career in the win, with her 24 points marking the most she's scored in 120 games across her five seasons. She also led the team on the boards with eight. She was named Paradise Jam Island Tournament MVP after averaging 15.0 points and shooting 76.2 percent (16-of-21) across the three Wolfpack wins.
Aziaha James (15 points), Madison Hayes (11 points) and Mimi Collins (10 points) also scored in double figures in another balanced attack by the Wolfpack. Saniya Rivers assisted on seven of the team's made baskets and was also named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team.
As was customary in all three of its Paradise Jam games, NC State set the tone early by building up a double-digit lead in the first quarter. The Pack held Colorado to just six points (3-of-17 shooting) and forced them into six turnovers in the opening period. NC State went up 9-0 quickly, with all of those points scored by Hayes and Baldwin, to force the Buffaloes to burn a timeout less than five minutes in.
NC State continued cruising in the early stages of the second quarter and led by as many as 23 points (29-6, 8:24), but the Buffaloes scored 20 points to the Pack's 12 from there to cut into NC State's lead. Colorado brought it within 11 (37-26, 1:26) late in the second quarter, but the Pack scored the final four of the half to take a 15-point lead (41-26) to the break.
NC State then outscored Colorado 22-14 in the third quarter to keep a comfortable cushion (63-40) and did not give the Buffaloes a chance to get back into the game in the fourth.
The Pack's 18-point margin tied as its second-largest victory over a top-five opponent in a total of 25 such wins in team history.
NC State returns to Raleigh for three home games in a row. The Wolfpack kicks off that home stretch with its inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge game against Vanderbilt, which is set for Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7:15 p.m. on the ACC Network.
