Raleigh, N.C. — In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, Aziaha James led the No. 14 N.C. State Wolfpack to an 89-83 victory over the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils, achieving a career-high of 36 points.

James demonstrated impressive shooting accuracy, hitting 15 of 19 attempts while also grabbing six rebounds. This remarkable performance marked her second consecutive year of standout play against Duke, following a 33-point outing during a win earlier in January 2024.

For Duke, Ashlon Jackson contributed significantly with 23 points, including six three-pointers. The Blue Devils showed strong momentum in the first half, executing a 20-point run and establishing a 13-point advantage early in the third quarter. However, James unleashed her power in the second half, racking up 27 points to shift the game’s momentum.

This matchup coincided with the annual Play 4 Kay event, which honors the late Hall of Fame coach Kay Yow and aims to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. Fans of the Wolfpack donned pink in support, and the school reported that nearly $478,000 was raised during the event held on a court named after Yow.

Takeaways from the game reflect Duke’s broken five-game winning streak under coach Kara Lawson, while N.C. State under Wes Moore has now extended its winning run to seven games, with only one loss experienced since December.

A memorable moment came in the fourth quarter when James netted 15 points, with her final basket crucially expanding N.C. State’s lead to 86-81 in the closing minute. Receiving an inbounds pass from Zoe Brooks, James maneuvered through defenders to score over freshman Toby Fournier.

An unexpected contributor for N.C. State was freshman Lorena Awou, who typically averages only 2.8 points per game. She stepped up impressively by scoring six of her eight points during the decisive fourth quarter, including a critical go-ahead putback after being fouled with just under three minutes remaining.

Looking ahead, Duke will return to their home court for the first time in nearly three weeks, preparing to face Clemson on Thursday. Meanwhile, N.C. State will travel to take on No. 22 Florida State on Sunday.