NC State
18-9,8-8ACC
#11/9 Virginia Tech
22-4,12-4ACC
Pack Falls at #11 Virginia Tech
2/19/2023 6:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A shorthanded NC State women's basketball squad (18-9, 8-8 ACC) put together a valiant effort on the road at 11th-ranked Virginia Tech (22-4, 12-4 ACC) but was unable to overcome a tough second quarter as the Hokies won 75-62 on Sunday night.
Down a pair of its usual starters, the Wolfpack did not shy away from the challenge of having just seven available players in a formidable road environment. Aziaha James earned her first career start at point guard and turned in a career-high night with 20 points. The sophomore guard shot 3-of-6 from distance in nearly 30 minutes of action. Mimi Collins joined James in double figures with 12 points, and River Baldwin (9) and Camille Hobby (8) also aided in the Pack's paint attack.
NC State knocked down a trio of first-quarter three pointers, including two from James in the final two minutes of the period, to own a 19-18 edge after 10 minutes. James' threes started what was a 10-0 run for the Pack which led by as many as five points (23-18) in the early phases of the second quarter. Virginia Tech answered with a 10-0 stretch of its own in the second quarter to jump back in front. Overall, the Hokies outscored the Pack by 12 (29-17) in the period to take an 11-point halftime lead (47-36). The advantage was insurmountable despite NC State holding Virginia Tech to just 28 second-half points.
The Pack managed to cut what was at one time a 20-point Hokie advantage in the third quarter to nine points early in the fourth quarter but never came closer.
NC State turned the ball over just five times in the contest, just one shy of a season-low and program record number of mishandles. The Pack also led in offensive rebounds (11-5) and second-chance points (9-2), bouncing back from a double-digit rebound deficit that it faced in the first of the two regular-season matchups against the Hokies.
NC State stays on the road Thursday night for a matchup with ninth-ranked Duke. Tip-off from Cameron Indoor Stadium is set for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on the ACC Network.
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