NC State
1-0,0-0ACC
ETSU
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Strong Second Half Surges NC State to Opening Night Win Over ETSU
11/5/2024 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State women's basketball outscored ETSU 51-29 en route to an 80-55 victory on opening night, in which the 2024 NCAA Final Four banner was unveiled in front of 4,291 fans. All 12 available players saw time on the court with four players in double digits in scoring. Zoe Brooks tallied a career-high 21 points to pace the Pack.
Saniya Rivers earned the first points of the 2024-25 season with a 3-pointer, which sparked a 6-0 run. The Pack was in a scoring drought for over three minutes, but did not dig that much in a hole, as the Buccaneers did not get their first points until 4:20 left in the first quarter. Mallory Collier scored back-to-back baskets, and at the end of the first quarter, NC State led, 10-8.
ETSU went on a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter to take their first lead of the game, 20-14, with 4:11 left in the second quarter. Collier broke the Pack out of a drought with a layup, which started a 15-6 run to close out the half, in which the Pack forced four turnovers in less than three minutes. NC State went into the locker room ahead, 29-26.
NC State opened the second half on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a Rivers second-chance 3-pointer and a steal and score by the senior. The Pack extended their lead to 12 off a Madison Hayes layup through contact. The Bucs cut the lead to seven with a minute left in the third, but James converted a 3-point play to put the advantage back to 10, as the Pack led 57-47.
The Pack took total control in the fourth quarter, outsourcing the Bucs 23-8, closing out the game on a 9-0 run. Lorena Awou put up five points in the fourth quarter in her first career collegiate outing.
NC State had 51 of its 80 points in the second half, and limited turnovers to just two vs. its 12 in the first 20 minutes of the game. Aziaha James scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half, while Brooks logged 14 of her 21 in the final 20 minutes. The Pack shot 48 percent from the field and outrebounded ETSU, 49-30 with 21 offensive boards.
PACK FACTS
- Brooks led the way with 21 points off 8-of-14 from the field. She added four rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes
- James picked up from where she left off last season with 17 points and nine boards
- Hayes was solid and delivered when the team needed her, tallying 11 points off 5-of-7 shooting with two steals
- Rivers logged 11 points, seven boards and three of the team's eight total steals
- Collier delivered six points and five boards in 16 minutes off the bench
- The Pack picked up its 1,050th career win in program history
UPCOMING
The Pack will play No. 1/1 South Carolina as a part of the Ally Tipoff on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. on ESPN. NC State will be back in Reynolds Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 14 to take on Kent State at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.
