RALEIGH, N.C. — In a strong second-half performance, Aziaha James led No. 21 N.C. State to a 61-47 victory over James Madison on Thursday night, marking the team’s fifth consecutive win.
James showed her scoring prowess during the third quarter, contributing 10 of the Wolfpack’s 12 points. This blitz helped N.C. State establish a significant 40-27 advantage with just under five minutes remaining in the period. However, the Wolfpack struggled offensively after that, managing only a single field goal for the rest of the quarter, allowing James Madison to narrow the gap to 42-33. James responded decisively by scoring the first four points of the fourth quarter, pushing the lead back into double digits.
In addition to James’s standout performance, Madison Hayes added 11 points, and Zoe Brooks contributed 10 points along with six assists and three steals. For N.C. State (9-3), the win not only concluded their nonconference schedule but also marked a career milestone for head coach Wes Moore, as it was his 840th career victory and the 282nd with the Wolfpack, achieved in his 1,100th game as a head coach.
On the other side, James Madison (8-4) was led by Kseniia Kozlova, who recorded 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The Dukes were anticipated to be a strong contender in the Sun Belt, as they were chosen to finish first in the preseason rankings. However, Peyton McDaniel, who was named the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year, struggled significantly, finishing with only five points on 2-of-10 shooting, despite an average of 14.5 points per game leading up to this matchup.
Both teams faced difficulties shooting in the first half, with neither surpassing 34% from the field. Combined, they made only three out of 30 attempts from beyond the arc. Specifically, James Madison managed to hit just 6 of 29 attempts in the first half but still found themselves trailing 26-17 as N.C. State experienced their own shooting woes, finishing the second quarter at just 3 for 21.
The Wolfpack will now enjoy a nine-day break before returning to action against Clemson in their second ACC game of the season on December 29. Meanwhile, James Madison will look to bounce back as they start their Sun Belt play against Troy.