In an overtime matchup, NC State won its ACC home opener against Florida State 88-80, extending its undefeated streak to 14 games to start the season. With five different players scoring double-digit points and five different players getting at least five rebounds, the Wolfpack needed all hands on deck in one of its best performances of the season.
“I’m proud of the grit we showed,” said head coach Wes Moore. “We could’ve easily hung our heads, and instead … we stepped up, hit some big shots and got a few stops.”
Missing the entirety of the fourth quarter and overtime period after going down with an ankle injury, graduate center River Baldwin led the Wolfpack with 21 points. Up until being forced out of the game late in the third quarter, she did all the heavy lifting, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor while the offense ran through her for the majority of the game.
Despite the Wolfpack (14-0, 2-0 ACC) getting the first four points of the game, it was the Seminoles who leap-frogged it for the early lead. Two early 3-pointers gave Florida State (11-4, 2-1 ACC) an 8-4 lead three minutes in. It was clear from early on that the Pack was going to have its hands full since Florida State could make shots from both the perimeter and inside the arc.
The two teams’ approaches to scoring points in the first quarter were drastically different. Florida State was content with the open looks it was getting from the 3-point line, while NC State looked to drive inside and get shots up from near the basket. This benefitted Baldwin, who, in just the first quarter, had 12 points and five rebounds.
The Wolfpack was comfortable in setting up its offense and taking its time to move the ball around while often taking shots with the shot clock winding down. The Seminoles, on the other hand, were pushing the tempo in transition with 17 points coming on the fast break.
Much of the second quarter began with the teams trading scores back and forth. Both teams proved why they should be in the top 25 as the scoring felt nonstop to begin the game. The scoring did slow about halfway through the second quarter, as teams were tightening up defensively, but NC State managed to go on a 6-0 run to end the half and took a 40-34 lead at the break.
From the end of the second to the beginning of the third, each team was a little disconnected. They took turns giving up turnovers and not getting the shot opportunities they had to start the game. Although down six at the half, Florida State tied the game up at 42 just three minutes into the third quarter.
No one was getting the crowd going like Baldwin was when she was drawing charges. Prior to exiting the game late in the third, Baldwin drew five charges on defense, and after each one, Reynolds got louder and louder.
“Her five charges gives us energy. … We needed them,” said senior guard Madison Hayes.
Each team could manage to go on four-to-five-point streaks of their own, but neither managed to come up with a streak on both ends of the floor to run away with the game. NC State was the beneficiary of one of these streaks at the end of the third quarter, with a 5-0 run in the last minute and a half that gave the Pack an eight-point lead heading into the fourth.
With Baldwin out of the game and NC State going to a smaller lineup, the Seminoles saw a lot more space in the lanes near the basket and took advantage. Florida State slowly chipped away at the eight-point lead, getting to the rim and drawing fouls.
The game grew more physical toward the end, with Florida State taking advantage of getting to the free throw line as 10 of its 15 made free throws came in the fourth quarter. FSU wasn’t the only one driving to the basket late in the game. Junior guard Aziaha James, late in the game when the Wolfpack needed her, was getting tough layups around the basket.
“We got a target on our back this year now. Every game we are going to have now will be a physical game,” James said.
After Baldwin went down, the scoring from NC State became largely by committee. Hayes combined with graduate forward Mimi Collins for 20 points and 18 rebounds. They filled the hole Baldwin left as best as they could, but Florida State continued to poke holes.
“Take River out of the lineup, and [getting rebounds] is going to take a hit,” said Moore. “It won’t be replaced by one person, it’s going to take everyone chipping in.”
With less than 15 seconds and a tie game at 74 apiece, each team got a chance to ice the game out of a timeout and off a drawn-up play, but neither could convert. Reynolds was in store for a nailbiter in its first ACC action of the season.
To open the overtime period, James and Hayes each hit a big three with freshman guard Zoe Brooks nailing two free throws, and within a couple of minutes the Pack was up six. The Wolfpack had converted one 3-pointer in regulation but pulled out two big ones when it mattered most.
As Reynolds came to a roar after two missed free throws by FSU, the Seminoles never caught up, and NC State emerged victorious.
NC State will get a couple days off before it heads to Blacksburg to take on No. 13 Virginia Tech on Sunday, Jan. 7 at noon.
