ATLANTA — In an exciting matchup, Aziaha James and Zoe Brooks each contributed 17 points to help the No. 13 ranked N.C. State pull off an 83-68 victory against No. 20 Georgia Tech on Thursday night.

Saniya Rivers also made an impact by scoring 16 points, while Madison Hayes added 14 for the Wolfpack, who improved to a record of 21-5 overall and 13-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This win was especially significant as it came on the heels of a close 66-65 loss to No. 12 North Carolina last Sunday, which had halted their impressive nine-game winning streak.

The game saw Hayes shine in the third quarter, where she hit two three-pointers and scored eight of her points, aiding the Wolfpack in outscoring the Yellow Jackets 24-17 during that period. As the fourth quarter commenced, Hayes extended the lead further with another three, pushing the score to 69-53. Although Georgia Tech momentarily made things interesting with an 8-0 run to narrow the gap to 71-63 with under eight minutes remaining, they were unable to come any closer.

In the first half, James was particularly effective, contributing 15 points, while Hayes took charge in the second half to finish with 11. Together, they were instrumental in the Wolfpack’s shooting from beyond the arc, hitting seven of N.C. State’s successful eight three-pointers.

For Georgia Tech, Tonie Morgan led the team with 17 points, while Dani Carnegie supported her with 16 points. Kara Dunn and Kayla Blackshear also had solid contributions, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively. Blackshear added nine rebounds to her tally, showcasing her all-around game.

With this victory, N.C. State has now claimed nine of the last eleven encounters in this series and marked their first win in Atlanta since their 84-75 win on December 31, 2020. Notably, the Wolfpack boasts a remarkable 19-game home winning streak and will be preparing to host the top-ranked Notre Dame on Sunday.

In contrast, Georgia Tech will be looking to bounce back as they prepare for their final regular-season home game against Florida State on Sunday.