North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
14-6,7-2ACC
Virginia
14-6,6-3ACC
NC State Pulls Through with Overtime Win at Virginia
1/24/2026 5:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The NC State women's basketball team saw a different outcome this time in overtime with a 78-76 win at Virginia. The win marks a Quad 1 win for NC State (Virginia is No. 38 in the NET).
NC State was up by three in regulation with 18 seconds left, but the Cavaliers knocked down one of its eight triples in the fourth quarter to tie the game. With five lead changes and three ties in overtime, NC State pulled through, outscoring the Cavaliers 12-2 in the extra period.
Zoe Brooks registered a career-high 37 points, marking the ninth most points scored in a single game in school history and most since 1998 (Chasity Melvin vs. Louisiana Tech on March 27, 1998). She broke records in free throws made (19) and free throws attempted (20) in a game at NC State and in John Paul Jones Arena.
NC State led by as many as 18 and won the rebounding battle by one, 46-45. The Pack won the battle in points off turnovers (21-13) and points in paint (32-30).
NC State started the game on a 10-0 run with Brooks accounting for seven of the Pack's first 12 points. After a Zamareya Jones 3-pointer, the Pack led 12-2, as Virginia called a timeout with 6:40 left in the first. Virginia knocked down a triple out of the break, but Jones matched that with her second 3-pointer of the game. NC State was then held in a scoring drought of over three minutes, but Virginia was held in a drought for the remaining 4:43 of the quarter. NC State started the game with a 16-6 lead in the first. This marked the 13th time NC State has held a team to single digits in a quarter this season.
Virginia scored two straight baskets to begin the second quarter. Khamil Pierre then delivered her first basket of the game off a jumper, the first field goal for NC State in nearly seven minutes. After a find from Devyn Quigley to Pierre, NC State took a 23-14 lead with 4:38 left in the second. That started a 9-0 run for the Pack, as Brooks drew contact on a basket to convert a 3-point play and Pierre delivered a layup to take a 16-point lead. NC State led 34-18 at the half. Pierre had eight of her points in the second quarter and Brooks paced the Pack with 14 first-half points.
Brooks found Pierre under the basket for two to start the third quarter. NC State was held in a two-minute scoring drought, allowing Virginia to go on a 6-0 run. The Pack stopped that run with two Jones free throws and a jumper from Qadence Samuels. WIth 5:06 left in the third, NC State led 42-26. Out of the break, NC State was held in a three-minute scoring drought, while Virginia scored seven straight points to cut the deficit to single digits. The Pack answered with four straight points, including a Jones layup off a fast break. After three, NC State led 48-37.
The Pack got on the board first in the fourth quarter off a Brooks jumper. A Trygger layup extended the Pack's lead to 15, but then Virginia knocked down back-to-back triples, a part of Virginia eight 3-pointers in the fourth. Brooks responded with an and-1, her second of the game. Virginia then cut the lead to three twice in the last minute of the game. With 31 seconds left, Brooks was fouled and made one of two free throws. Virginia then had a second chance opportunity with 18 seconds left in the game and nailed down a triple to cut the lead to one. Brooks then made two free throws to push the game back to three, but Virginia responded again with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 66 and send the game into overtime.
The Pack got the first basket of overtime quickly with a Jones layup, but Virginia quickly responded with a second-chance bucket. NC State tied the game up at 70 with a Trygger layup. A Pierre free throw put the Pack up by one, but Virginia answered with its 12th 3-pointer of the game. Brooks went 6-of-6 from the free throw line down the stretch and extended the Pack's lead to four with 12 seconds left. Virginia then made a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game with four seconds remaining. NC State had a clean inbound and Pierre was fouled. She made one of two free throws and Virginia only had time for a quick heave, as NC State pulled out a 78-76 win in overtime.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Wes Moore:
"The same thing that we've been doing, I thought we played three great quarters and we were able to build up a lead, but in the fourth quarter, it just seems like everyone's hitting threes on us. They were 8-for-12 from three, we tried switching everything, we tried playing some zone just to give them a different look, but I am proud of our kids. They could have hung their heads and said 'ah here we go again.' They showed a lot of grit and fight, and found a way to get a big road win."
PACK PERFORMERS
- Brooks scored a career-best 37 points in the win, shooting 19-of-20 (95 percent) at the free throw line. Her 19 makes and 20 attempts are both the most in a single game by a Wolfpack player in program history. The junior also added five rebounds and five assists
- The Plainfield, New Jersey's 19 free throws was the most since 2011 (Amber White vs. Wake Forest on Feb. 27, 2011) and her 20 attempts was the most since 2019 (Elissa Cunane vs. Elon on Dec. 15, 2019)
- Brooks' 37 points is the ninth most points made in a single game in school histor and most since 1998 (Chasity Melvin vs. Louisiana Tech on March 27, 1998)
- Pierre recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Her 12 double-doubles this season is tied for No. 12 in a single season in school history
- Jones rounded out the Pack's scorers in double figures with 14 points, two rebounds, and two assists
- Trygger added eight points and seven rebounds in the victory
- NC State outrebounded Virginia, 46-45, the 16th time this season the Pack have held an advantage over its opponent on the glass
- NC State held Virginia to six first-quarter points, the 13th time this season the Pack's defense has limited its opponent to single digit points in a frame
- The Wolfpack outscored the Cavaliers off turnovers, 21-13, and in the paint, 32-30
- Today's victory marks the Pack's first overtime win of the season
- The Pack played back-to-back overtime games for the first time since 2014.
UPCOMING
NC State will take on Boston College on the road on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. The game will be aired on ACC Network.
