NC State
12-4,4-1ACC
Stanford
9-7,1-4ACC
Pack’s Big Third Quarter Lifts Pack On the Road at Stanford, 81-67
1/12/2025 5:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STANFORD, Calif. – The Pack used a 34-point third quarter to take an 81-67 bounce back win on the road vs. Stanford. The Pack's 34 points in the fourth quarter marked the most points scored in a quarter this season and fourth most in program history (since the establishment of quarters in 2015-16). NC State saw all five starters in double figures, led by Saniya Rivers' fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Pack tallied 10 3-pointers and scored 40 points in the paint. NC State also had 17 assists on 33 made field goals. The Pack also handed the Cardinal its first loss at home after starting the season 9-0. NC State has started the season 12-4 with a 4-1 ACC mark.
The Cardinal got out to an early 5-0 lead, as the Pack missed its first four shots. Zoe Brooks then found Tilda Trygger for the Pack's first points off a layup. A Rivers's triple cut the lead to one, but the Cardinal had an answer from beyond the arc, as the Pack trailed 13-9 at the media timeout taken at 4:13. Madison Hayes knocked down a triple out of the media timeout, but the Pack finished the quarter scoreless for the remaining three minutes, trailing 18-12 after the first quarter.
A Mallory Collier basket ended the Pack's five-minute scoring drought. Hayes knocked down her second triple to cut the deficit to one, and then Collier helped the Pack earn its first lead of the game off a layup. The Cardinal had an answer and at the media timeout, the Pack trailed 24-23 with 4:33 left in the first half. Laci Steele knocked down two three-pointers and Rivers converted a 3-point play as a part of a 9-0 run for the Pack. The Cardinal then picked off the Pack and took it to their end for two before the buzzer sounded, as NC State led 34-28 at the half.
Aziaha James came up with her first points off a jumper to begin the third quarter. Hayes then registered her third 3-pointer and Brooks added with a floater, as the Pack jumped out to an 11-point lead, ahead 41-30 with 8:52 left in the third quarter, forcing Stanford to call a timeout. Brooks extended the run to a 12-3 one, as the sophomore went to work in the second half, knocking down a triple as a part of her nine early points after being held scoreless in the first half.
After a Rivers triple, the Pack extended its lead to 19 until Stanford answered with a layup. At the media timeout taken with 4:56 left in the second quarter, the Pack. James made two free throws and a layup to extend the Pack's lead to 23. Trygger got fouled just before the end of the quarter and knocked down two free throws, as the Pack led 68-43 going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Trygger went to work inside for a layup and Stanford answered with a 3-pointer. James answered with a 3-pointer of her own. Stanford went on a quick 6-0 run, needing just 36 seconds to do so, but James went quick in transition for two of her own. The Cardinal went on another run, an 8-0 one, to cut the Pack's lead to 14 with 3:28 left in the game. NC State led 79-65, calling a timeout. The Pack got out of its three-minute scoring drought with a Trygger layup, as she clinched double digits in scoring for the third straight game. NC State closed out the game to get back to its winning ways with an 81-67 victory.
QUOTES
SANIYA RIVERS, senior guard
On the bench's performance:
It was definitely a rough start. Obviously, two of our starters were in foul trouble early, Zaza (Aziaha James) and Zoe (Brooks). We had big minutes off the bench, Laci Steele and Mallory (Collier) came in and contributed heavily. I played 40 minutes, so it was tiring as the point guard, but you have to do what you have to do to play those 40 minutes and contribute to those points so we could get the dub.
On slipping to point guard when Zoe Brooks got in foul trouble:
Definitely, I'm still a point guard in my mind. That's the good thing about our team, we are so interchangeable and can dribble with the ball, help on the ball. I'm a point guard in my head because I can contribute in different ways and dish the ball so that doesn't matter whether or not if Zoe is in or out.
On the third quarter:
Especially because Zoe and Zaza just came in and just forgot about those two fouls and just came in and flipped the script, that was beautiful basketball.
WES MOORE, head coach
On the win:
Again, especially the second quarter, our bench came in and really gave us a lift. Laci Steele and Mallory Collier were great. Then the third quarter, Zoe and Aziaha were in foul trouble and Zoe came out and really took over a little bit and carried us there. Obviously Saniya the whole game. She is really playing at a high level right now with 17 points and 11 boards. To be honest, it's good to have our whole starting five in double figures. I think we have come along there. Mallory probably would have gotten double figures if I hadn't been upset with the and-1 we gave up there late, but it's a big win. You'd hate to come out here and lose two, plus it makes that five hour flight a lot nicer now.
About the sophomore reserves performance:
Like I said, Laci hit those two big threes and Mallory was 4-of-5 from the field. They gave us a big lift. Again, that's what I keep stressing. Your number is going to get called, but you have to be ready and take advantage of it.
On the performances at the No. 5 spot:
You know me, I'm not through worrying, but those two are doing a good job tag teaming it. Hopefully the two will continue to get better the next month or two and will be playing their best basketball in March.
On the third quarter performance:
It was pretty nice. Transition, outrunning, getting stops on the other end and turning them over. We scored well off turnovers today and were able to get rebounds… When you get stops, you are able to run and when we run, that's our best basketball.
On winning at Maples:
This is the first time we've played here since I've been (at NC State). You know last year beating them in the Sweet 16 was a little bit bigger, but to come out here on their home court and they were undefeated on their home court this year (9-0)… To come out here and get a win is big. It's a tough road trip and the people that don't have to come out here this year probably have to be thankful because, I'm not talking about the travel, but the two teams you are playing are talented and you have to be at your best.
PACK FACTS
- All five starters registered double digits in scoring and the bench pitched in 14 points between Steele and Collier
- Rivers led the Pack with 17 points, including 10 first-half points. She registered her fourth double-double of the season by logging 11 rebounds and adding two assists, two blocks and one block, while playing all 40 minutes
- Brooks recorded 14 points and four assists. She had all 14 of her points in the second half
- James also had all of her points in the second half, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals
- Hayes put up eight first half points and finished with 11, going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and logging five rebounds
- Steele made two 3-pointers and finished with three boards in 10 minutes off the bench
- Collier went 4-of-5 from the field to finish with eight points
- The Pack made 10 3-pointers, shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc (10-of-25)
- All 10 available players saw time on the court
UPCOMING
NC State will head back home to host Pittsburgh on Thursday, Jan. 16. That game will tipoff at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Debbie Antonelli will be honored into the Ring of Honor during halftime.
