No. 3 <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nc-state-wolfpack/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NC State</a> women’s basketball went scoreless for more than six minutes of the fourth quarter after building a double-digit lead against No. 13 Virginia Tech, squandering its advantage on the road and falling on a last-second shot in by <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/elizabeth-kitley-168911/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elizabeth Kitley</a>. 



The Hokies handed the Pack its first loss of the season after 14-consecutive wins to start its 2023-2024 campaign. Prior to the winning bucket by Kitley, junior guard <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/saniya-rivers-163398/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saniya Rivers</a> (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) converted a reverse layup to give NC State a one-point lead with 2.1 seconds remaining. 



That was the Pack’s first made shot since the 7:52 mark of the quarter. The visitors converted 1 of their final 12 shots, giving up a 14-2 run. 



NC State ran early and often to start Sunday’s game, with freshman guard <a href="https://gopack.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/zoe-brooks/12299" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoe Brooks</a> (8 points, 5 assists) starting in place of graduate center <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/river-baldwin-163397/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">River Baldwin</a>, who missed the game with an ankle injury. The visitors’ first two buckets were a fast break shot by graduate forward <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/mimi-collins-163394/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mimi Collins</a> (9 points,), assisted by Brooks, and a layup by the Pack’s lead guard. 



Junior guard <a href="https://gopack.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/aziaha-james/12297" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aziaha James</a> (4 points) only played 3 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, so her teammates stepped up around her. In the first quarter, freshman guard <a href="https://gopack.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laci-steele/12302" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laci Steele</a> (8 points) netted a pair of threes to lead NC State in scoring, and a total of 6 Wolfpack players scored in the period. The program led 19-13. 



After the Pack started the second quarter cold from the field, Virginia Tech freshman guard <a href="https://hokiesports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/carys-baker/13419" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carys Baker</a> hit a pair of threes to knot the game at 19. NC State then held the Hokies scoreless for the next 3:40 of game time. 



During that stretch, Rivers got to the rim for a layup, and standout senior guard <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/madison-hayes-163393/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Madison Hayes</a> (21 points, 9 rebounds) swiped a pass and took it to the rim for an easy score, expanding the visitors’ lead to 4. Hayes followed that up with her second triple of the afternoon, finishing the half with a team-leading 9 points and 6 rebounds while also guarding the opposing squad’s power forwards at times. 



“I thought, for the most part, we competed really well,” head coach Wes Moore said after the game. “A tough environment, obviously a great crowd for them and I just thought our effort and urgency was really good.”



NC State hit its first 5 shots of the third quarter, including 5 more points by Hayes. In another balanced scoring effort, six players hit at least one shot in the period— headlined by 7 points from the senior guard on perfect 3 of 3 shooting. The Wolfpack carried a 52-45 lead into the final period after shooting 62.5 percent from the field. 



Both teams traded buckets to start the fourth before the Hokies cut their deficit to 4 with 4:29 to go, forcing a Wolfpack timeout. Virginia Tech held the visitors scoreless for 3:23 going into that stoppage and forced 4 turnovers over the first 5:31 of the quarter. 



With 1:51 to go in the game, the Hokies called a timeout while trailing 60-59. NC State was in the middle of a 6:01 scoring drought that included 9 missed field goals during a 10-0 Virginia Tech run. 



“I just felt like we settled for jump shots a little too much in the fourth quarter,” Moore said. 



The Hokies took the lead on a Kitley layup with 1:28 and stopped the Wolfpack on the following possession. After the teams traded stops and a series of timeouts in the final seconds, Virginia Tech freed up Kitley on a screen that led to an open catch and shoot opportunity that decided the game. 



“A heartbreaking loss, obviously, to be within two seconds of getting out of here,” Moore said. “ACC wins on the road especially are tough but, against a great team like Virginia Tech, they’re even tougher, obviously.”



NC State returns to the court Thursday, Jan. 11, for a showdown against UVA at Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack defeated the Cavaliers 72-61 Dec. 31.

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