NC State holds on to beat Seton Hall to return to win column

By Noah Fleischman

NC State’s dynamic backcourt of Zoe Brooks and Zam Jones were a combined 0-of-7 shooting in the first quarter. Freshman guard Ky’She Lunan couldn’t get going, either, with a fadeaway jumper going off the side of the glass backboard in the second quarter. 

That was just a glimpse of the Wolfpack’s offense against Seton Hall, which featured a unit stuck in neutral for much of the afternoon without a player logging more than two made buckets in the first half. But even though the Pack had to work through a 35.5 percent shooting start, it found a way to click into gear coming out of the halftime break. 

NC State, propelled by a strong third quarter on both ends of the floor, returned to the win column with a 61-53 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack limited the Pirates to just 20 second-half points to earn the gritty result.

Jones led the Pack with 12 points, while junior forward Khamil Pierre added 11 and sophomore center Tilda Trygger chipped in with 9. Junior forward Maddie Cox corralled a career-best 12 rebounds with 7 points to anchor the front court. NC State, as a team, turned in a 50.0 percent shooting total in the third quarter as it posted a 36.5 percent mark for the game.

Here are TheWolfpacker.com’s observations from the NC State’s win.

Playing through illness

NC State has battled sickness running through the team over the past few days, which led to the Wolfpack’s fourth different starting lineup of the season. 

Pierre, who had posted 47 rebounds in the last three games, didn’t start for the first time this season, while junior guard Qadence Samuels was on the bench for just her second time in a Pack uniform. Instead of those two, Moore inserted Cox in Pierre’s spot, while sophomore Devyn Quigley started where Samuels usually does. 

Although they began the game on the bench, both Pierre and Samuels saw action against Seton Hall. Samuels, the former UConn transfer, checked in late in the first quarter, and Pierre followed to start the second period.

Despite working through an illness, Pierre was the spark to a critical 6-0 run midway through the third quarter after she logged just four first-half minutes. She had a pair of layups and a rebound to allow NC State to take its first lead of the second half. 

Pierre, who has solidified herself as one of the Wolfpack’s go-to offensive weapons, took over in the third quarter with a team-best 6 points and three rebounds in just five minutes of action. She was able to work on the offensive glass, while also drawing attention from a consistent double team, leaving shooters open on the perimeter.

The former Vanderbilt transfer scored all 11 of her points in the second half to help buoy NC State’s offense in crunch time.

In addition to the two routine starters, freshman guard Adelaide Jernigan was also battling illness and was not present for the game on the Wolfpack bench. Sophomore center Lorena Awou, meanwhile, was absent from the arena due to a “coach’s decision,” according to NC State. 

Cox active in the paint

In just her second start of the season, Cox appeared to be hungry to prove that she deserves more minutes as the season progresses. She was constantly moving around the floor, putting her nose in nearly every play in the paint. 

That paid dividends for Cox, who posted a career-best 10 rebounds in the first half alone. She was active on the glass, battling on the interior each time a shot went up, regardless if she thought it was going in or not. 

While Cox established herself as a critical part of the Wolfpack’s rebounding efforts, the forward was able to be stout on the defensive end. She battled for several loose balls, earning a held ball in the fourth, while she also drew a charge earlier in the period as well. 

Cox finished the contest with a 2-of-8 shooting effort to go with her career-most total in rebounds and two blocks.

NC State owns glass

Sticking to a frontcourt theme, NC State was able to own the rebounding battle against Seton Hall, a squad that was picked to finish third in the Big East this season.

The Wolfpack held a 51-38 advantage on the glass, including a 15-10 mark on the offensive end that led to 13 second-chance points in the win. Seton Hall, meanwhile, only had 2 points after an offensive rebound in the contest.

While Cox was the rebounding ace, Jones was able to crash the glass from her guard spot with seven boards, while Pierre turned in eight more in her limited action on the floor.