Devyn Quigley embraces role in NC State's NCAA Tournament win over Vermont

As the ball clanged off the rim in the fourth quarter, NC State freshman guard Devyn Quigley flew through the paint. Her only mission was to corral a second-chance opportunity, the key reason why she was in the game. 

Not only did Quigley get to the ball first, but she was able to toss it back into play, keeping the Pack’s possession alive. That hustle play drew smiles from nearly the Wolfpack’s entire bench, including fellow classmate Zam Jones, who jumped in excitement. 

Quigley, a rarely-used reserve for the past three months, was able to bring a burst of energy off the bench in second-seeded NC State’s 75-55 win over 15th-seeded Vermont in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament inside a sold-out Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

While it had been 11 weeks since Quigley had seen more than 10 minutes on the floor, she was prepared to leave her mark in an NCAA Tournament debut. The Wolfpack needed Quigley to pursue any loose ball to bring a spark to the team’s lineup. 

She delivered. 

The Manchester, N.J., native scored just 4 points with three rebounds (two on the offensive end) in 17 minutes played — her most burn since a 25-minute outing against Boston College on Jan. 5. 

“I’ve always been a player that wants to play the role that my coach gives me,” Quigley said with a wide smile in the postgame locker room. “I don’t need to score to win. It’s about who’s willing to do the little things, such as Madison [Hayes] and be the hustle player. … Whatever you need me to do to win, I’m with it.”

Hayes, NC State’s do-it-all wing that has a knack for rebounding and finished with a team-best 12 boards in the win over Vermont, has been Quigley’s role model this season. The two are roommates on the road, including the postseason, and that connection has led to Quigley absorbing nearly everything Hayes tells her. 

The veteran has been focused on keeping Quigley’s confidence up, even when she hasn’t been playing as much as she might like. Hayes knows what it’s like to be a freshman looking for any way to earn more playing time.

It seemed those conversations paid off. 

Wes Moore, NC State’s 12th-year coach, had a 1-on-1 meeting with Quigly going into the NCAA Tournament. He felt the freshman guard deserved more minutes in the postseason, which appeared to settle Quigley as she entered the weekend with a confident mindset. 

“Doing the little things can always help you get playing time, especially with Coach Moore — the rebounding, the defense,” Hayes said. “That’s what she did today. I’m super proud of her. … She’s kind of like a little me out there.”

In addition to Quigley’s ability to rebound and defend, the energy she brought onto the floor seemed to radiate onto the rest of the Wolfpack’s roster. She played the most of any bench player as Moore deployed six reserves throughout the game with only freshman post Lorena Awou playing double-digit minutes (12). 

“She can give us a spark off the bench,” Moore said of Quigley. “We have so many veteran guards, it’s hard sometimes to pull them off the court, but we gotta do that, especially if we need to send a message. Somebody that’s not going to the board, somebody is not doing what they’re supposed to do defensively, like I said, feel like we need to have accountability, and Devyn has done a good job when we’ve called on her.”

Senior guard Saniya Rivers, one of the Pack’s veteran leaders, noticed a difference with Quigley on the floor.

“Seeing her be a spark, smiling and making plays, it’s amazing,” Rivers said of Quigley. “She doesn’t get to play all the minutes in the world, but she’s always prepared when her number is called. It’s just special watching her grow.”

Although the season has been filled with inconsistent playing time, Quigley hasn’t batted an eye. She’s not discouraged by the fluctuating minutes. Instead, it’s something that has motivated her to improve throughout the year. 

Now, her childhood dreams of impacting the game in the NCAA Tournament have come true. It’s a matter of playing consistently when she’s on the floor. Quigley will likely have the opportunity to prove that in Monday’s Round of 32 battle with either Michigan State or Harvard. 

“I’ve always been a team player,” Quigley said. “Some games I might not be able to help the team as much as others, and sometimes I can help the team. I’m just as happy cheering for them and watching. Of course, I want to play. When I’m in there, it’s really fun.”

Quigley wore a grin for much of her time on the court against the Catamounts, but it seemed to be the biggest when she subbed out for the final time in the last three minutes. The 5,500 fans inside the Wolfpack’s home gym rose to their feet with a standing ovation — a moment Quigley wanted to soak up.

“It’s just crazy that I’m in this moment right now,” Quigley said. “I’m really just trying to take all of this in.”