For the fifth time in program history, NC State women's basketball secured a perfect regular-season non-conference record as the third-ranked Wolfpack (12-0) took care of business in an 87-50 road win at Old Dominion (8-2).
NC State made a statement against one of the best defensive teams in the nation, hitting more threes (10), scoring more points (87) and posting the highest field-goal percentage (.537) of any of the Monarchs' 10 opponents in 2023-24.
As has become its signature way, the Pack put together an incredibly balanced effort on its way to handing ODU its first home loss of the season. Six NC State players scored in double figures for the second time this year.
Madison Hayes led the way with her season-high 17 points, knocking down four three pointers to to tie her career high. She finished two rebounds away from a double-double with her eight, and
River Baldwin was in the same boat with 12 points and nine boards.
In her homecoming, Virginia Beach native
Aziaha James tallied 16 points, and
Laci Steele (11 points) and
Mimi Collins (10 points) added in solid efforts off the bench.
After making history with a triple-double in her first career start two games ago, rookie guard
Zoe Brooks posted a double-double in her third start in a row. She finished the night with 13 points and 11 assists, becoming the first Pack player in at least 15 years to have 10+ assists in two games in the same season.
The Wolfpack used a big back half of the second quarter to build up a comfortable lead and position itself for the eventual win. After ODU scored the first six of the second to go up 19-18, NC State limited the Monarchs to just one made shot in the final eight and a half minutes of the period. That stretch saw the Pack score 17 of the final 19 of the opening half to lead 36-21 at the break.
NC State pushed its lead over 20 by rallying off the first eight points of the second half and kept that much of a cushion for the final 16:13 of the victory. Within that stretch, the Pack scored 20 unanswered from the 2:11 mark of the third quarter to the 5:45 mark of the fourth quarter.
Following a break for the holidays, the Wolfpack will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 31 for its final of three-straight road games and its ACC opener. NC State makes the trip to Virginia for that contest that is set for a 6 p.m. start on the ACC Network.
https://gopack.com/news/2023/12/20/womens-basketball-3-pack-beats-odu-87-50-to-close-out-perfect-non-conference-slate