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NC State remains undefeated with wire-to-wire Cincinnati win

On3 imageby:Ethan McDowell•11/24/23•

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Madison Hayes
NC State guard Madison Hayes. (Photo courtesy of NC State athletics)

Senior guard Madison Hayes starred Friday afternoon, notching her first double-double of the season during another Paradise Jam win for No. 10 NC State women’s basketball. The Wolfpack defeated Cincinnati 79-45 Friday afternoon. 

Hayes kicked off the scoring against the Bearcats with a three, opening up a lead that the program maintained for the entire contest. She finished the game with 16 points and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes. 

Six members of the Wolfpack finished in double figures, and the program led by as many as 36 points during its second win in two days. 

Cincinnati forward Malea Williams carried the Bearcats in the first quarter, scoring the program’s first 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting. The Pack weathered that storm in-part thanks to Hayes’ 10 early points. 

Junior guard Aziaha James heated up towards the end of the quarter, ending the first period with 8 points and extending the Pack’s advantage to 26-14 after 10 minutes. All five NC State starters hit at least one shot. 

NC State drew 3 offensive fouls in the first 2:30 of the second quarter, keeping the Cincinnati offense out of its rhythm. The Bearcats finished the period 3 of 13 from the floor, scoring 8 points compared to 24 for the Pack. 

Freshman point guard Zoe Brooks played all 10 minutes of the second quarter, driving to the basket for layups, hitting a three and dishing out key passes to finish the period with 7 points, 2 assists and 2 blocks. She wrapped up the contest with 12 points, 4 rebounds and a team-leading 3 assists.

James and Hayes continued to score well, racking up a combined 26 points in the first half. The senior guard also grabbed a team-leading 7 rebounds through two quarters. 

After 20 minutes, NC State held a 50-22 lead. This was the Wolfpack’s second-consecutive game scoring 50 or more in a half. In its two Paradise Jam contests this week, the program outscored Cincinnati and Kentucky by 59 combined points in the first half. 

Both teams started the third quarter cold, making just 2 shots in their first 11 combined attempts, but a three by Hayes and a layup by graduate center River Baldwin on an assist by junior guard Saniya Rivers snapped that cold streak. 

NC State played all four of its scholarship freshmen for a decent chunk of the third quarter. Center Mallory Collier showed out during that stretch, scoring 6 of her 10 points in that period. 

Taking a 66-35 lead into the final 10 minutes, the Wolfpack rested its starters for most of the period. The freshmen played the majority of the final stretch, and guard Laci Steele reached double figures as well with 11 points. 

NC State, now 6-0, returns to the court Saturday, Nov. 24, for its final game of the Paradise Jam against No. 3 Colorado.

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