NC State’s Baldwin Named National Player Of The Week

RALEIGH — NC State women’s basketball graduate center River Baldwin was named one of five Ann Meyers-Drysdale National Players of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on Tuesday (Nov. 28).

Baldwin averaged 15 points, six rebounds, and two assists in three Wolfpack victories at the Paradise Jam, highlighted by leading the team in scoring in its second top-five win of the season against No. 3 Colorado. The Andalusia, Ala., native was named Paradise Jam Tournament MVP for her efforts in those wins.

Baldwin led all players on the floor in scoring with her 24 points against the Buffaloes on Saturday afternoon. The number beat out her previous career-high 19 points, and she tallied 16 in the first half alone. Baldwin also led the team on the boards in that game, with her eight tying her season high.

That performance against Colorado came after Baldwin posted 11 points against Kentucky and 10 points against Cincinnati in the days prior. Across those three games, Baldwin shot an efficient 16-of-21 (.762) and dished out a pair of assists to her teammates in each win.

NC State cracked the AP Top 5 for the first time since the end of the 2021-22 season, checking in at No. 5 in Monday’s poll. The Wolfpack is back in action at home on Wednesday, Nov. 29, when it welcomes Vanderbilt to Reynolds Coliseum for the ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge.