Fresh off of a statement win over UConn, NC State women’s basketball kept the good times rolling with a 90-35 victory over Elon.

“Bobby Knight used to talk about big game, next game,” said head coach Wes Moore. “It’s hard sometimes to have that same energy and intensity.”

The Wolfpack came out of the gate swinging to put Elon away early, using a quick 7-0 run to open the game and set the tone. From the jump, it was clear that NC State wanted to overwhelm the Phoenix in the paint. By outscoring Elon 18-4 in the paint during the quarter, the Pack successfully imposed its will early.

“As a coach, you want to get better every outing,” Moore said. “We did a lot of good things, but there’s still a lot of things we need to clean up.”

Graduate forward Mimi Collins led the charge early and was a force in the paint. In the first quarter alone, Collins posted 14 points on perfect 6-6 shooting. The graduate broke out all the moves — from pump fakes to pick and rolls — to punish Elon, ultimately finishing the game with 18 points off of 8-8 shooting and six boards.

While the first quarter was an offensive firework show from the Pack, the home team turned up its defense in the second, only allowing two points during the period. This monster

defensive effort began in the paint, where NC State recorded three blocks in the quarter.

Additionally, the red-and-white did a great job contesting shots, refusing to offer the Phoenix open looks. The two-point quarter was the best defensive quarter by the Wolfpack since 2017.

“In practice, that’s the majority of what we work on, just defense,” said freshman guard Zoe Brooks. “We’re not gonna stop until we get it right.”

Meanwhile, the red-and-white kept its foot on the gas offensively in the second quarter. Junior guard Aziaha James took charge, scoring eight points on 50% shooting. James opened up the floor for her teammates during the quarter by drilling a pair of threes. While it was her best quarter of the night, James played well throughout the game and finished with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists. Her night ended early when she was helped off the court with an injury.

Both offenses heated up in the third quarter, but the Pack still outscored Elon 23-13. No particular NC State player overshadowed the rest during this period — instead, the Wolfpack spread the ball around to get the best possible shot. Defensively, the red-and-white found its groove midway through the quarter when graduate center River Baldwin made a jaw-dropping block — crippling any momentum previously gained by the Phoenix.

As the fourth quarter began, Moore turned to his bench, specifically the freshmen, to close out the game. For a lot of younger players, getting this early season experience is critical.

“The game is definitely a lot faster, and every possession counts,” Brooks said. “Every day I feel like I’m getting better and in-game is a different type of competition.”

Among the freshmen, each player found ways to contribute. Freshman forward Maddie Cox snagged a team-high nine boards, preventing Elon from earning second chances. Meanwhile, freshman center Mallory Collier was efficient in terms of scoring inside, totaling six points on 3-5 shooting. Freshman guard Laci Steele stretched the floor with a pair of triples, while Brooks dished out five assists.

“[Moore] is a tough coach,” Steele said. “He never lets anything go, but that’s good, and that’s what you want from a coach.”

With a dominant win in the books, the Pack will turn its attention to Rhode Island. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 in Reynolds Coliseum and can be found on ACC Network Extra.