WBB: Late Run Helps NC State Defeat Clemson

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State Wolfpack women’s basketball team pushed through for an 83-79 win over the Clemson Tigers in a game that saw 13 lead changes and 10 ties to elevate to 2-0 in the ACC. NC State’s win marked the 16th straight against Clemson and the 13th straight victory at home. The Pack improved to 10-3 on the season, riding on a six-game winning streak.

NC State had four players in double figures, led by Madison Hayes 19 points and nine rebounds and Zoe Brooks’ 18. Saniya Rivers had 12 of her 14 points in the second half and Aziaha James finished with 15. The Pack outrebounded Clemson 39-33 and outscored the Tigers in the paint, 38-26.

Brooks and James had four and five points, respectively in the opening five minutes as the Pack took an early 9-4 lead. The Tigers then knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to retake the lead at 10-9 at the media timeout taken with 4:38 left in the first quarter.

Clemson was 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in the first quarter and took a six-point lead, but Hayes hit back-to-back triples to tie the game at 19 with over a minute left in the first quarter. Tilda Trygger hit two free throws as the Pack ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 21-19.

Clemson had the first five points of the second quarter, as the Pack started 0-for-4 from the field. Rivers then took it to the basket for two and Maddie Cox drained a 3-pointer. At the media timeout taken at 4:50, the game was tied at 26. Lorena Awou came off the bench to score a quick four points, but the Pack did not convert on their next five field goals, as the Tigers made back-to-back 3-pointers. Brooks came up with a basket through contact to convert the 3-point play and had a layup off a steal. The Tigers then knocked down their ninth 3-pointer of the game for the 10th lead change of the contest, as Clemson went into the locker room with a 37-36 edge over the Pack.

The Tigers extended its lead to five, while NC State had back-to-back offensive fouls to start the second half. Clemson then took a 48-40 lead, its largest lead of the game, with less than seven to play in the quarter. Mallory Collier came into the game off the bench and scored baskets on back-to-back possessions for the Pack, and at the media timeout taken with 4:22 left in the quarter, NC State trailed 52-48. A James layup initiated an 11-2 run to close out the third quarter. Two layups from Rivers gave the Pack its first lead since the first half, as NC State led 61-59 going into the fourth quarter.

Clemson took the lead again off a 3-pointer but the Pack responded with one of their own, as Hayes knocked down her third of the game. With 6:50 left in the game, the Pack led 67-65. Brooks put up a layup off a steal, but Clemson responded with one of their own. Hayes and Brooks then came up with layups, as the Pack led by six, 73-67, at the media timeout taken with 4:43 left in the game. The Pack kept the run rolling to an 8-0 run and a Rivers layup extended the Pack’s lead to 10, 77-67, with 3:59 left to go, as Clemson called a timeout. As the shot clock was winding down, Rivers knocked down a long 3-pointer to extend NC State’s lead to 12 with less than two minutes to play in the game. Clemson then knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to six, but the Pack would go on to finish the game with an 83-79 edge.

NC State will stay at home to host Boston College on Sunday, Jan. 5. The game will tipoff at 2 p.m. from Reynolds Coliseum