The Wolfpack returns to Raleigh to play its next three games at home against ranked ACC teams. NC State kicks off the home stretch with a Thursday night matchup against rival North Carolina, with that game set for an 8 p.m. start on the ACC Network

In front of classless fans in a little gym

Fifth-ranked NC State women's basketball (18-2, 6-2 ACC) kicks off a three-game homestand on Thursday night as it takes on 24th-ranked North Carolina (15-6, 7-2 ACC) for a sold out, primetime showdown.

Tip-off between the Wolfpack and the Tar Heels is set for 8 p.m. from Kay Yow Court inside Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum. Doors open at 7 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on the ACC Network, and live radio coverage will also be available on WKNC 88.1 FM in Raleigh and on the GoPack and Varsity Network apps.

Tickets for the matchup are sold out, but fans interested in attending can check SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan marketplace of the Wolfpack

SERIES HISTORY (NC State leads 63-54)
Thursday marks the 118th overall meeting between NC State and North Carolina. The teams have faced off at least once every season since the 1974-75 campaign, the Pack's first year as a varsity team.

The squads split last year's regular-season series, with NC State earning the more recent victory in an overtime thriller at home on Feb. 16, 2023.
The Pack won that game by a 77-66 score after overcoming a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to force extra time. NC State outscored the Tar Heels 15-4 in the overtime period.
Both Aziaha James (18 points) and Mimi Collins (10 points) scored in double figures off the bench in the Wolfpack's most recent win over North Carolina.
NC State has won its last four home games against the Tar Heels. UNC has not won inside Reynolds Coliseum since Feb. 3, 2019.
The Wolfpack enters Thursday's game with a 32-17 record when playing UNC at home.
NC State is 12-9 against the Tar Heels under the leadership of Coach Moore.
Prior to last year's matchup, the Pack had been ranked in the AP Top 25 for the previous 11 meetings against UNC.
Thursday will be the 106th time that at least one of the two squads is ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of competition. NC State and UNC have only faced off as a pair of unranked teams 12 times in the previous 117 meetings.
The Tar Heels have the 12-6 advantage in games during which both teams are ranked.

https://gopack.com/news/2024/1/31/womens-basketball-5-wolfpack-faces-off-against-24-tar-heels-thursday-night

.@uncwbb vs. @PackWomensBball has become one of the best rivalries in #WBB

NCSU is only team in ACC w/ 5 players avg 10+ ppg.

UNC is 2-2 in true road games this season & last won at NCSU in 2019.

Alyssa Ustby: 11.8 ppg & 11.2 rpg vs. NCSU.

Tomorrow: 8 PM

.@uncwbb vs. @PackWomensBball has become one of the best rivalries in #WBB 🐺🐏

NCSU is only team in ACC w/ 5 players avg 10+ ppg.

UNC is 2-2 in true road games this season & last won at NCSU in 2019.

Alyssa Ustby: 11.8 ppg & 11.2 rpg vs. NCSU.

Tomorrow: 8 PM @accnetwork!

— Kelly Gramlich (@kellygramlich) January 31, 2024

On the hunt.

⏰ 8 PM
🆚 #24 UNC
📍 Reynolds Coliseum
ℹ️ https://t.co/iyAek54QAN pic.twitter.com/tFdWRI3HrJ

— NC State WBB 🐺🏀 (@PackWomensBball) February 1, 2024

🏀 Big game tonight: UNC vs NC State women's basketball! Shoutout to interns Anya and River representing each team! Cheering you on from GiGi's Playhouse! 🎉 Thank you for your time and talents! 💙🧡 #UNC #NCState #GiGisPlayhouse 🌟🏀 pic.twitter.com/Svg4Ppy9iQ

— GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh Down Syndrome Achievement (@gigisraleigh) February 1, 2024

1Q
Media timeout
4:34
unc-ch 8
NC State 5

1Q
NC State 15
unc-ch 12

2Q
Media timeout
4:02
NC State 24
unc-ch 22

Halftime
NC State 31
unc-ch 24

3Q
Media timeout
4:18
NC State 41
unc-ch 36

3Q
NC State 49
unc-ch 48

4Q
unc-ch timeout
5:42
NC State 58
unc-ch 52

4Q
Media timeout
4:33
NC State 60
unc-ch 54

4Q
unc-ch timeout
3:07
NC State 62
unc-ch 59

4Q
NC State timeout
0:25
NC State 62
unc-ch 59

4Q
NC State timeout
0:13.3
NC State 62
unc-ch 59

4Q
unc-ch timeout
0:12.3
NC State 62
unc-ch 59

4Q
NC State timeout
0:08.8
NC State 62
unc-ch 59

4Q
unc-ch timeout
0:07.7
NC State 63
unc-ch 59

Final
NC State 63
unc-ch 59

vs unc-ch
12-16 free throws
75.0%

Fifth-ranked NC State women's basketball (19-2, 7-2 ACC) earned its fourth ranked win of the season with a 63-59 victory over rival and 24th-ranked North Carolina (15-7, 7-3 ACC) on Thursday night.

It marked the Pack's 13th home win in a row and its sixth-straight ACC win inside Reynolds Coliseum, and the team remained unbeaten (11-0) in its home gym in 2023-24. NC State has won its last five home games against the Tar Heels in a streak that started in January of 2020.

Four Wolfpack players scored in double figures with Mimi Collins and Saniya Rivers tying for the team lead with 14 apiece. Rivers also led the team on the boards (9) and in assists (4). Zoe Brooks and Aziaha James each added 10 points, with rookies Brooks and Maddie Cox contributing to NC State's 15 bench points.

Despite shooting under 40 percent (.393) for just the sixth time this season, the Wolfpack took care of business from the charity stripe and was solid defensively in holding UNC below the 60-point threshold.

NC State held North Carolina to 0-of-5 shooting in the last 3:45 of the game with the Pack holding just a possession lead that entire time.

After a 1-of-8 shooting start, NC State was able to find its groove and the lead with an 8-0 run over a four-minute span to end the first quarter. The Pack led 15-12 after a period and then held UNC scoreless for the first few minutes of the second to go up seven (19-12, 8:36) for the largest lead by either team in the first half. The Tar Heels managed to tie things back up at 22, but NC State scored nine of the last 11 of the half, including a three by Collins before the buzzer, to take the 31-24 advantage into the break.

NC State was able to go up by 10 (36-26) in the early stages of the second half, but UNC hit a pair of threes, its first two of the game, to cut back into the Wolfpack's lead. The Heels got as close as one twice in the third quarter but never retook the lead in the third with NC State's edge at 49-48 headed into the final 10 minutes.

UNC took the lead, its first in nearly 23 minutes, on the first possession of the fourth and ended up going up by three (52-49), but NC State responded with a 9-0 run to force the Tar Heels to use their first timeout. A late spurt by the Tar Heels brought them within a bucket (62-59), but NC State's defensive effort and a late free throw by Rivers closed out the win.

James scored eight of the Pack's 14 in the fourth quarter, and the Wolfpack held the Tar Heels' leading scorer Deja Kelly to zero points in the final period.

Next, NC State will host its 19th Annual Play4Kay Game on Monday, Feb. 5 when it welcomes Louisville to Reynolds Coliseum. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start and will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The game is sold out, but fans who are interested in purchasing tickets may do so on SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan marketplace of the Wolfpack.


https://gopack.com/news/2024/2/1/womens-basketball-5-pack-guts-out-63-59-win-in-home-battle-with-24-unc

Ranked win #4 💪 pic.twitter.com/zwj34YtQaJ

— NC State WBB 🐺🏀 (@PackWomensBball) February 3, 2024