TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In an impressive display of basketball, Aziaha James led the way with 22 points while Zoe Brooks contributed 21, helping the 14th-ranked N.C. State defeat the 22nd-ranked Florida State with a score of 97-74 on Sunday.
Other standout performances for the Wolfpack included Tilda Trygger, who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, Madison Hayes adding 14 points, and Saniya Rivers contributing 12 points. Brooks also showcased her abilities by grabbing seven rebounds and providing seven assists during the game.
For Florida State, Ta’Niya Latson topped the scoring with 23 points, and O’Mariah Gordon followed closely with 20 points. Makayla Timpson added 14 points along with nine rebounds, while bench player Amaya Bonner contributed 11 points to the team’s efforts.
Throughout the third quarter, N.C. State maintained a commanding lead, stretching their advantage to over 20 points. Gordon helped narrow the gap with a couple of 3-pointers, bringing the score to 65-49 with three and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, N.C. State quickly countered, scoring seven unanswered points to wrap up the quarter with a comfortable 72-51 lead.
Timpson attempted a comeback for the Seminoles, scoring in the paint to close the gap to 63-49 midway through the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, N.C. State sealed their victory with a decisive 10-0 run that featured 3-pointers from Hayes and Rivers, effectively putting the game out of reach.
The Wolfpack got off to a strong start in the first half, with James landing a 3-pointer followed by Rivers, and James again scoring a layup to establish a 19-9 lead early on. Hayes capped a powerful opening quarter with another 3-pointer, ending the first period in favor of N.C. State at 26-14.
Florida State managed to get closer, narrowing the deficit to 39-31 with three minutes left in the half; however, N.C. State responded with a 12-0 run fueled by contributions from five different players, ultimately leading to a 51-31 advantage by halftime.
Looking ahead, N.C. State is set to host Miami on Thursday, while Florida State will face off against Louisville on the same day.
