North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
3-3,0-0ACC
Rhode Island
6-1,0-0Atlantic 10
No. 16 NC State Falls to Rhode Island
11/23/2025 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – The No. 16/16 NC State women's basketball team dropped its Sunday game against Rhode Island, 68-63. URI ended the game on a 7-0 run in a game where the Rams led for 23 minutes.
Zamareya Jones led the Pack with 17 points, logging 14 of those in the first half. NC State outrebounded the Rams 35-25.
NC State made five of its first six baskets, and after Rhode Island missed its first two shots, the Rams had a response on each of its next five possessions. At the media timeout taken at 4:44, NC State led 12-11. URI then took its first lead of the game, making back-to-back 3-pointers as a part of a 9-0 run. The Pack trailed 20-18 after the first, with Jones having logged 10 of the Pack's 18 points.
Both teams struggled to shoot in the second quarter, as NC State was held to 30 percent (3-of-10) and URI to 33 (5-of-15). The Pack retook the lead temporarily with two minutes left in the quarter thanks to Qadence Samuels free throws. The junior had five second-quarter points. URI would extend its lead to three with a layup just before the half, as NC State trailed 33-30.
After an URI and-1 to start the third quarter, the Pack responded by making its next four field goals to tie the game at 38 with 7:05 left in the quarter. Tilda Trygger made a 3-pointer to give the Pack its first lead since late in the second quarter, but that was short-lived, as URI would extend its lead to four. NC State chipped at the deficit and tied the game twice, the second time being off a Zoe Brooks layup. The game was knotted up at 51 after three.
Destiny "Ky'She" Lunan kept the Pack going in the fourth quarter, as the Pack opened the first minute on a 7-0 run. After a Lunan triple, URI called a timeout and the Pack led 56-51 with 8:44 left in the game. After the timeout, the Pack was held in a scoring drought for 4.5 minutes, while committing four turnovers in that stretch, allowing URI to retake the lead, 59-56, with 4:08 left in the game. NC State went on a 6-0 run, as a Jones triple helped the Pack take a 3-point lead, but URI ended the game on a 6-0 run to defeat NC State 68-63.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Wes Moore
Opening Statement
"It was a great job by Rhode Island. I think their coach does an awesome job, they were well prepared, and they played really, really well. We're obviously going through a tough stretch right here. We just have to be a little more bought into details, and paying attention. We're defending certain things well but we need to be bought in on both ends. We spend a lot of time on those things, but obviously it's not getting through. It's just very frustrating. We're not playing well right now, and again, that's my fault. We have to clean it up."
On players buying in:
"Being engaged. It starts in practice. Our scout team does a great job simulating the other team's offense and personnel, but we need to buy into taking away what opponents want to do. In the first half, we gave up too many points in the paint, even though the plan was to clog it up and force jumpers. Then on offense, we settled for jumpers instead of attacking downhill which is the opposite of what we wanted. We'll watch the film and try to figure it out."
On giving his players confidence and turning this around:
"I told them we're eight seconds away from being 4–1, and that's after playing three top-20 teams. But even in that close loss, we missed our assignments on a sideline out-of-bounds play and gave up a layup. It's frustrating. Again, if it's not getting through, then I'm not teaching it or demanding it well enough. We may need to change the lineup and go with those committed to getting it done."
On balancing fun and hard work at the upcoming Cancun Challenge:
"It's tough because there are men's and women's games going on all week, so practice time is limited. But we can still do walk-throughs, film, and mental prep off the court. It does take some fun out of the trip, going into it after a loss and playing the way we are. Tomorrow, we travel all day, and hopefully once we get there we can refocus and prepare. We have back-to-back games for the first time, so it'll be a great opportunity."
On getting everyone on the same page:
We just have to have better practices. I mean, I feel like we did have better practice coming in. I don't know what happened during the game, but, I just say buy in and practice. We have to have energy during practice and come out ready to play. We looked kind of sluggish in the first half, like we didn't even want to be there. So, I feel like we just need to buy in and have more energy coming into the game.
On practices not going ideally:
"At this point, I don't know, but we're definitely going to get together. Again, we're a young team, so we really have no leaders. We are trying to have Zoe (Brooks), Maddie Cox and me step up and try to be the leader. So, we just have to get it right for sure.
On having new players helping this year's team:
"It definitely feels good. You know, Zoe (Brooks) and Maddie Cox, Tilda (Trygger) from last year, so we're just trying to lead. We have Khamil (Pierre) and Qadence (Samuels), so we're just trying to get them to get rolling. Qadence didn't have a great game, but like I told her, 'I had plenty of bad games last year, but you can't be stuck on one game' You have to keep playing. We have to be dogs out there. I agree with Coach Moore, we're some chihuahuas right now. So, we just have to get it together for real."
PACK PERFORMERS- Jones led NC State with 17 points, one shy of her career best and most since the season opener against Tennessee (Nov. 4). The sophomore also added a pair of rebounds, an assist and a steal
- Khamil Pierre was the Pack's other double-digit scorer with her 14 points, while also tying for team highs in rebounds (8) and assists (4)
- Trygger also grabbed eight rebounds to tie for the team lead, while Brooks matched Pierre with four assists. Both Trygger and Brooks chipped in eight points apiece
- Lunan led the Wolfpack bench with eight points, including 2-of-2 from three
- Devyn Quigley recorded her first collegiate start
- NC State outrebounded Rhode Island, 35-25
UPCOMING
The Pack will head to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge, set to face Green Bay on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Southern Miss on Friday, Nov. 28. Both games will be streamed on FloHoops.
