NASSAU, Bahamas — Zoe Brooks led the way with 17 points as No. 20 NC State delivered a convincing performance in the fourth quarter, achieving a 77-47 victory over Southern in the opening game of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship on Monday.

With this win, the Wolfpack, now holding a 4-2 record, initially struggled against the Jaguars, who remain winless at 0-7. NC State managed a narrow 29-26 advantage at halftime, thanks to a crucial 3-pointer by Brooks just before the break.

In the third quarter, Lorena Awou and Madison Hayes chipped in with eight points, helping the Wolfpack close out that period on an 8-2 run to lead 45-38.

The teams exchanged baskets in the early moments of the fourth quarter; however, Brooks, Zamareya Jones, and Awou united to score 14 points during a dominant stretch, which included a 3-pointer from Aziaha James and a remarkable 17-0 run. Southern experienced a drought lasting nearly five minutes, during which they missed five shots and turned the ball over three times.

NC State extended their lead with a subsequent 12-0 run, ultimately outscoring the Jaguars 32-9 in the final quarter, while Southern struggled with their shooting, hitting just 3 of 12 attempts.

In addition to Brooks’ performance, Jones added 13 points and James contributed 12 for the Wolfpack. They are set to face the winner of the matchup between Washington and No. 7 LSU in the championship game scheduled for Wednesday.

For Southern, Aleighyah Fontenot scored 11 points, and Aniya Gourdine added 10. The Jaguars have faced a tough schedule, with previous losses to several ranked teams, including Oklahoma, Iowa State, and Nebraska, as well as Missouri and Colorado. They’re expected to encounter two more ranked opponents in Texas and Illinois, without factoring in LSU.