NC State lives up to top-10 ranking in blowout Kentucky win
NC State women’s basketball ran Kentucky off the court in the U.S. Virgin Islands Thursday afternoon. The No. 10 Wolfpack played at a blistering pace that helped the program capitalize on Wildcat mistakes and win its first Paradise Jam matchup 84-55.
Senior guard Madison Hayes paced the program with 15 points, and she was 1 of 9 players to finish with at least 6 points. She hit 3 of 4 shots from behind the arc, and the Pack hit 7 of 19 threes overall. NC State absolutely dominated the rebounding battle, claiming a 45-28 advantage on the boards.
The Wolfpack jumped out to an early 11-2 lead, in part thanks to a three and a floater by Mimi Collins, and the Wildcats called an early timeout with 6:04 left in the first. NC State finished the first quarter shooting 61.9 percent from the field.
Junior point guard Saniya Rivers led the team with 11 points on 5 of 5 shooting. Hayes and Collins each contributed 7 points as well. The Wolfpack took a 31-16 lead into the second period after scoring 12 fastbreak points and holding the Wildcats to 5 of 15 shooting.
Kentucky hit just 1 shot in the second quarter, scoring 8 points almost entirely from the free throw line and missing its other 14 field goal attempts.
NC State built up a 31-point halftime lead, continuing to rack up the transition points and control the boards. Going into the break, the program held a 28-13 rebounding advantage.
The Pack drew 4 charges in the first half, forcing 8 total Wildcat turnovers. Graduate center River Baldwin provided an imposing presence in the paint on both ends of the floor. She scored 11 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, including 2 offensive boards, and dished out 2 assists Thursday afternoon. NC State led 55-24 at the break.
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To start the second half, the Wolfpack picked up right where it left off, forcing a timeout early in the period after Hayes hit two threes to expand the lead to 36 points with 6:44 remaining. NC State hit 5 of its first 6 shots, assisting on 3 of those buckets.
Freshman guard Zoe Brooks led the Pack alongside junior guard Aziaha James Thursday, setting up 5 buckets. She left the game in the fourth quarter after taking a hard poke to the eye. James also scored 7 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Rivers capped the third period with a steal and a fastbreak layup in the final seconds, building a 76-34 lead going into the fourth. NC State hit 81.8 percent of its shots in the quarter. Four Pack players had double digit points going into the final 10 minutes.
Kentucky outscored the Wolfpack 21-8 in the fourth quarter. Junior forward Katie Peneueta played for the first time since the exhibition game, checking in for 10 minutes. She missed the previous four games due to injury.
NC State, now 5-0, returns to the court Friday at 3:15 p.m. ET for a showdown against Cincinnati.
