The Wolfpack will next battle No. 3 Colorado on Saturday at 1PM.

Paradise Jam
Day 3, University of Virgin Islands Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Island Division
Colorado vs. North Carolina State ESPN+, 1 p.m.

NC State's final game in the 2023 Paradise Jam will be a top-10 matchup as it faces No. 3 Colorado on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off between the Wolfpack and the Buffaloes is set for 1 p.m. EST (2 p.m. local time), and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Top-10 matchup to close out the @paradisejam.

⏰ 1 PM (EST)
🆚 #3 Colorado
📍 St. Thomas, USVI
ℹ️ https://t.co/wkP4cMCVvS#GoPack pic.twitter.com/b4HSQfVpWH

— NC State WBB 🐺🏀 (@PackWomensBball) November 25, 2023

1Q
NC State 22
Colorado 6

2Q
media time out
4:59
NC State 33
Colorado 16

halftime

NC State 41
Colorado 26

3Q
media timeout
3:27

NC State 57
Colorado 35

3Q
NC State 63
Colorado 40

4Q
media time out
4:41

NC State 70
Colorado 49

4Q
bonus second half time out
1:06

NC State 76
Colorado 58

final

NC State 78
Colorado 60

3-0 in paradise 😎#GoPack pic.twitter.com/2B5S8AIQbk

— NC State WBB 🐺🏀 (@PackWomensBball) November 25, 2023

Yup, we did that. #GoPack pic.twitter.com/5XPFDWW488

— NC State WBB 🐺🏀 (@PackWomensBball) November 25, 2023

Tenth-ranked NC State women's basketball (7-0) picked up its second victory over a top-three opponent this season as it knocked off the third-ranked Colorado Buffaloes (6-1) 78-60 in Saturday afternoon's Paradise Jam finale.

After also defeating No. 2 UConn just 13 days ago, the Wolfpack has defeated two top-three teams in the same season four times in program history. It is the second-shortest span of time between two Wolfpack wins over such teams.

River Baldwin put together the best game of her career in the win, with her 24 points marking the most she's scored in 120 games across her five seasons. She also led the team on the boards with eight. She was named Paradise Jam Island Tournament MVP after averaging 15.0 points and shooting 76.2 percent (16-of-21) across the three Wolfpack wins.

Aziaha James (15 points), Madison Hayes (11 points) and Mimi Collins (10 points) also scored in double figures in another balanced attack by the Wolfpack. Saniya Rivers assisted on seven of the team's made baskets and was also named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team.

As was customary in all three of its Paradise Jam games, NC State set the tone early by building up a double-digit lead in the first quarter. The Pack held Colorado to just six points (3-of-17 shooting) and forced them into six turnovers in the opening period. NC State went up 9-0 quickly, with all of those points scored by Hayes and Baldwin, to force the Buffaloes to burn a timeout less than five minutes in.

NC State continued cruising in the early stages of the second quarter and led by as many as 23 points (29-6, 8:24), but the Buffaloes scored 20 points to the Pack's 12 from there to cut into NC State's lead. Colorado brought it within 11 (37-26, 1:26) late in the second quarter, but the Pack scored the final four of the half to take a 15-point lead (41-26) to the break.

NC State then outscored Colorado 22-14 in the third quarter to keep a comfortable cushion (63-40) and did not give the Buffaloes a chance to get back into the game in the fourth.

The Pack's 18-point margin tied as its second-largest victory over a top-five opponent in a total of 25 such wins in team history.

NC State returns to Raleigh for three home games in a row. The Wolfpack kicks off that home stretch with its inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge game against Vanderbilt, which is set for Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7:15 p.m. on the ACC Network.


https://gopack.com/news/2023/11/25/womens-basketball-no-10-pack-beats-no-3-colorado-for-second-top-five-win-of-season

No. 10 NC State women's basketball finished out its Thanksgiving campaign at the 2023 Paradise Jam with a 78-60 win against No. 3 Colorado. Graduate center River Baldwin put up a career-high 26 points in the matchup.

The Wolfpack (7-0) hasn't gone up against the Buffaloes (6-1) since 1997, when Colorado squeaked out a five-point win. Their battle in the U.S. Virgin Islands marks just the second time the teams have faced each other, and both came into today's matchup undefeated on the season.

NC State is coming into its own this season, competing well against two top-five teams in its early-season schedule. Its wins over then-No. 2 UConn and No. 3 Colorado puts the Pack back in a position to dominate after a somewhat disappointing 2022-23 season.

Against the Buffaloes, NC State started off strong, attacking aggressively in the paint to put itself up 9-0 in the first few minutes. NC State held the Buffaloes to six points in the first quarter, not allowing Colorado to put up any points from free throws or from behind the arc. Junior guard Saniya Rivers put forth a strong effort defensively, stopping efforts from Colorado at the rim early on.

While Colorado struggled to get points on the board, the Wolfpack struggled from behind the arc, going 2-7 in the first half. The Pack made up for that in its near 100% free-throw percentage, including Baldwin's 6-6 at the line in the first half. Baldwin also led the team with 16 points at halftime.

The Buffaloes were able to put up 20 points to the Pack's 19 in the second quarter. NC State's offense attack slowed down towards the end of the second quarter but still maintained a strong lead going into halftime, 41-26.

Picking up after the break, the Pack outperformed Colorado in points in the third quarter. It held the Buffaloes to a shooting percentage of 31.3%, while NC State put up 52.9%. Baldwin continued her push, showing out in the paint and posting six defensive rebounds. Junior guard Aziaha James finished just behind Baldwin in points with 13.

NC State held onto its lead the entire game, and it was clear that the Pack came out after halftime with the win in mind. The Wolfpack dominated throughout the first half and remained in that mindset through the second half. The red-and-white limited the Buffaloes' offensive production and showed up both in the paint and at the line. Over the course of the game, the Pack shot 27-58 from the field and went 20-21 at the line.

The Wolfpack will now travel back home to Raleigh after going 3-0 at the 2023 Paradise Jam. The team will take on Vanderbilt on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.

https://www.technicianonline.com/sports/no-10-wolfpack-women-s-basketball-finishes-out-2023-paradise-jam-3-0/article_c999d7bc-8bf5-11ee-b062-f7c546064c89.html

Took advantage of another opportunity 💪

🎥 #10 Wolfpack vs. #3 Buffaloes pic.twitter.com/B5IB8aqiTB

— NC State WBB 🐺🏀 (@PackWomensBball) November 26, 2023