Hope for the Wolfpack: Women’s Basketball Shines Amid Struggles
As the men’s basketball and football programs face challenging seasons, the No. 13 NC State women’s basketball team has emerged as the beacon of optimism for Wolfpack fans in the 2024-25 season.
Strong Start and Early Struggles
Beginning the season ranked No. 9, NC State encountered setbacks against top-tier teams, including then-No. 1 South Carolina, then-No. 7 LSU, and a formidable TCU squad, all currently within the top 10. These challenges pushed the Wolfpack out of the AP Poll ranks. However, the team persevered, rallying to secure 16 victories in 17 subsequent games, bolstered by an undefeated streak at Reynolds Coliseum, including three wins against top-20 rivals and peaking at No. 10 in the AP Poll.
Heartbreaking Loss and Team Dynamics
Recently, the Wolfpack faced a nail-biting defeat against then-No. 12 UNC-Chapel Hill, losing 66-65. While at first glance this seems merely like a narrow loss, it signifies deeper issues within the team’s performance. NC State has struggled to deliver a complete game, evidenced by a particularly dismal second quarter where they managed only four points, with senior guard Saniya Rivers being the sole scorer in that period. Meanwhile, UNC capitalized on this misstep, scoring 18 points and significantly shifting the game momentum in their favor.
Remarkably, outside of that second quarter, the Wolfpack outperformed the Tar Heels, outscoring them across the other three quarters by a total of 13 points. Despite demonstrating superiority through the rest of the game, NC State’s inability to perform consistently ultimately cost them a valuable Quad 1 win.
Recurring Patterns
This trend is not an isolated event. In a closely contested home game against then-No. 10 Duke, NC State set the tone with a strong first quarter, scoring 24 points against one of the top defenses in the ACC, shooting over 61%. Yet, reminiscent of the match against UNC, they faltered in the second quarter, allowing the Blue Devils to dominate with a 17-0 run, ultimately necessitating an exceptional performance from guard Aziaha James, who scored a career-high 36 points to secure the win.
Defensive Struggles and Historical Context
In a road game against then-No. 24 California, NC State had initially led, but they lost steam in the second quarter, ultimately trailing at halftime. This issue is not confined to the current season—last year, in the Final Four, NC State was just one point behind South Carolina at halftime, but a staggering 29-6 deficit in the third quarter resulted in their season-ending loss and denied them a spot in the National Championship game.
Finding Solutions
While pinpointing the cause of these lapses is challenging, NC State’s head coach Wes Moore is recognized as one of the best in the nation, highlighting that the issue isn’t with the roster. The team features standout talent, including a Wooden Award candidate and projected WNBA first-round picks. Determining whether the problem arises from overconfidence, underestimating opponents, or another underlying issue is crucial. With only four regular-season games left, NC State must urgently address these inconsistencies.
Upcoming Challenges
As the Wolfpack prepares for crucial matchups against No. 20 Georgia Tech and No. 1 Notre Dame, the time is ripe for NC State to demonstrate their full potential over a complete 40 minutes. Avoiding lapses and unproductive quarters is essential if they hope to reclaim their postseason momentum and contend with top contenders like UCLA, UConn, and USC.
