NC State women's basketball secured a comfortable win against Wake Forest, led by strong performances from key players and a team-oriented approach. The victory sets the stage for the upcoming ACC Tournament.
RALEIGH — NC State women’s basketball secured a comfortable victory against Wake Forest in their final game at Reynolds Coliseum on Thursday. The Wolfpack's win, with a final score of 65-56, was built on a strong defensive performance in the third quarter. They effectively kept the Wake Forest offense under pressure for a significant portion of the game. The victory was a true team effort, highlighted by four players scoring in double figures and two players achieving double-doubles.
Despite not being entirely satisfied with the overall effort, Coach Wes Moore acknowledged that the Wolfpack achieved their objective in a game they needed to win. NC State's reserves provided valuable contributions against Wake Forest. While the Demon Deacons remained competitive throughout the first three quarters, bench players like Devyn Quigley and Maddie Cox positively impacted the game without letting Wake Forest gain significant momentum. Quigley found her shooting rhythm early in the game, providing an offensive boost for the Wolfpack. She scored eight points in the second quarter, including two three-pointers, causing difficulties for Wake Forest's zone defense. Quigley concluded the night with 14 points and four rebounds, her first double-digit scoring performance since the December 14th win over Miami. Cox's energy was impactful on both ends of the court, giving Khamil Pierre a break with her ability to stretch the floor and defend well. She made a 3-pointer just before halftime, which put the Wolfpack up by 10 points, but Wake Forest fought back to narrow the halftime deficit to only five points. Cox finished with three points, two rebounds, and two blocks. Junior guard Zoe Brooks continued her consistent season with a strong performance on the offensive end. She skillfully identified favorable matchups, exploiting them effectively. Her shooting accuracy was evident, as she shot 8-of-15 from the field. The Wolfpack faced some difficulty establishing a flow in the third quarter, but Brooks kept her team competitive, leading the offense throughout the period. The savvy guard scored nine of the Pack's 14 points in those ten minutes. With Pierre dealing with foul trouble for most of the game, Brooks took on the scoring responsibility. Her defensive work was also impressive; she intercepted passes and attempted to limit Wake Forest's guards. She finished the game with 17 points, three rebounds, and three steals. Following the team's loss to Duke, Coach Moore emphasized ball movement. The Wolfpack performs best when they move the ball effectively and run their offensive sets properly, rather than resorting to a one-on-one style that characterized many losses, particularly against ranked opponents. While NC State had only 12 assists in the recent win, the offense felt more balanced and cohesive than in previous games. Four players scored in double figures, with sophomore forward Tilda Trygger contributing 16 points and Khamil Pierre adding 10. Effective ball movement enabled a 3-and-D player like Quigley to find open space for shots. It also allowed Trygger to be more successful in the middle, given her size advantage in the game. NC State is in control of its fate, needing a win on Sunday against Pittsburgh to secure a double-bye in the ACC Tournament, starting next week in Duluth, Ga. The Wolfpack played closer to their standard during the closing stretch, still managing to win despite losing the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh is near the bottom of the league standings, similar to Wake Forest entering Thursday. NC State should have greater motivation than Pittsburgh, allowing Coach Moore to adequately inspire his team. Tucker Sennett, the NC State Wolfpack Beat Writer on SI, graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a B.A. in Sports Journalism. A former basketball player, he brings a deep passion for sports and reporting to his role, having gained experience at Cronkite News
NC State Women's Basketball Wake Forest Reynolds Coliseum Zoe Brooks Devyn Quigley ACC Tournament
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