North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
11-4,4-0ACC
California
9-7,0-3ACC
NC State Squeezes Past Cal for 15th Straight Home ACC Win
1/4/2026 5:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – NC State women's basketball, who was shorthanded on Sunday, gutted out a 71-60 win over Cal for the Pack's 15th straight ACC home win. The game featured 12 lead changes and six ties and the Pack outscored Cal 34-24 in the second half, including a 19-9 edge in the third quarter.
NC State had four players in double digits, led by Khamil Pierre's 21 points and seven rebounds and Zoe Brooks' 12 points. The Pack outscored Cal 23-7 in points off turnovers and 18-8 on fast break points. NC State also had 18 assists on 28 baskets made with just six turnovers.
The Pack took command of the contest early with a 10-2 lead three minutes in, powered by four early points by Brooks. After a Cal layup, Qadence Samuels extended the lead to nine with a fadeaway jumper in the paint, but the Golden Bears responded with a 10-0 run to take the lead for the first time. After six lead changes and two ties in the quarter, the Pack had the slight 21-20 edge. Pierre logged seven of her points in the frame, while Brooks and Samuels had six apiece.
Cal began the quarter scoring the first four points and then Zamareya Jones knocked down a triple for the Pack's first 3-pointer of the game. The Pack made its next four baskets, including one by Brooks with a delivery from Jones to retake the lead. NC State used that to start a 9-0 run, forcing Cal to take a timeout, as the Pack led 33-27 with 5:22 left in the second. The Pack continued its run and extended it to an 11-0 run after a Pierre jumper, its largest run of the game, while Cal was in a four-minute scoring drought. Cal then went on a 7-0 run of its own to cut the lead to one, as NC State was held in a near three-minute scoring drought to end the frame. NC State led 37-36 at the half.
After empty possessions on both sides in the first two minutes of the quarter, Jones delivered a layup, but then Cal retook the lead with two straight baskets in response. NC State was held without a field goal for three minutes until Brooks found the hoop for two. Pierre helped the Pack retake the lead off a layup, making four straight baskets and then Jones delivered a layup, as the Pack led 53-45 with 1:23 left in the third. Samuels then knocked down a 3-pointer off a second chance opportunity to give the Pack its largest lead of the game of 11. NC State held Cal scoreless for the remaining 3:59 of the quarter to take a 56-45 lead after three.
Cal knocked down a 3-pointer to begin the fourth and then Destiny "Ky'She" Lunan responded with one of her own. As the shot clock was expiring, Jones drained one from deep. Cal cut the deficit to six with 3:33 left in the game and then Jones found Brooks for two for her seventh assist. The Pack forced three Cal turnovers, holding the Bears scoreless for nearly three minutes, and NC State closed out the game on a 5-1 run. NC State outscored Cal 34-24 to gut out the 11-point win, 71-60.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Wes Moore's Opening Statement:
"I'm proud of the way our kids hung in there. It's a tough day, obviously, without Tilda [Trygger], who was out ill. We knew it was going to be a challenge. [Sakima] Walker for Cal had come off a game where she scored 19, and obviously her 6'5" presence was a concern, but I thought a lot of people stepped up when we had to have it. A little disappointed in the rebounding, which again, I'm sure we missed Tilda because of that. That was an area we normally are pretty good at, and we didn't get it done today, but defensively, to hold them to 24 points in the second half was a good effort. Also, 18 assists and six turnovers, something I'd love to see consistently. So, there were a lot of good things there. But yeah, it's been tough. We came back, practiced for four days, played a game, practiced for two more days, and played a game. So good to survive it, and we'll be able to catch our breath a little bit."
PACK PERFORMERS
- With the win, NC State's ACC home winning streak moved to 15 games
- Brooks was NC State's first scorer into double figures with 13 in the first half and finished the game with 19. She also matched her career-high of four steals
- Pierre recorded her fourth 20-plus point performance of the season, finishing with a game-high 21 and sparking the Pack's key third quarter with eight points in the frame. The junior also led NC State's rebounding effort with seven boards
- Jones extended her double-digit scoring streak to 11 games with 12 points, while dishing out a game-leading seven assists, one shy of matching a career best
- Samuels recorded a season-best 13 points in a 40-minute effort, while also providing a strong defensive effort with a three steals, a new personal high
- NC State recorded just six turnovers in the victory, a new season low for the Pack
- The Wolfpack forced Cal into 20 turnovers and converted them into 23 points, while the Golden Bears managed just seven points off NC State turnovers
- NC State outscored California in transition, 18-8, on second chances, 9-8, and in the paint, 36-34
- The Wolfpack's defense collected 12 steals, the most for the team in an ACC game this season
UPCOMING
NC State will travel to play at Clemson on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network.
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