NC State women’s basketball took down the visiting Liberty Flames 80-67 in its last game in Reynolds Coliseum during 2023. Freshman guard Zoe Brooks led the Wolfpack’s attack, recording a triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in her first career start. Brooks’ triple-double is just the second in NC State history and the first since the 2000-01 season.
Despite playing a tighter game than it would’ve liked, the Pack (10-0) outscored the Flames (3-7) 9-2 in the final minute to scrape past Liberty and remain undefeated. The red-and-white played without star junior guard Saniya Rivers but Brooks and the rest of the Wolfpack still managed to pull out the win.
The first quarter started off business as usual for the No. 3 Pack — opening the game on a 13-2 run driven by eight consecutive points from junior guard Aziaha James. But Liberty managed to hang on, scoring 13 points to NC State’s 11 to head into the second quarter trailing by nine points.
The Flames went on to outscore the red-and-white 16-13 in a slow-paced second quarter that saw minimal offensive production on both ends. Freshman guard Laci Steele scored seven of her 10 points in the second frame to keep the Wolfpack in the lead and send the home team into the locker room up 37-31 after the first half.
Both squads came out swinging in the third, trading baskets in the opening minutes, but NC State proved to have more stamina and began to outwork the Flames as the clock wound down. NC State capitalized on fast break opportunities in the second half, scoring 19 points on the break compared to Liberty’s four. Twice, the visitors came within three points, but the Pack closed out the quarter with a 13-point cushion, 60-47.
A leaky roof in Reynolds delayed the game by 20 minutes, and the unexpected pause was enough to throw the Wolfpack off its game. NC State allowed the Flames to outscore it 15-8 in the first seven minutes of the final frame, which put them within five points and well within striking distance. However, the Pack locked in and made nine out of 14 attempted free throws in the final minute to run away with the victory, 80-67.
Against Liberty, the red-and-white continued to prove that it doesn’t need to depend on any one player to win games. NC State had five players — Brooks, James, graduate forward Mimi Collins, senior guard Madison Hayes and Steele — score in the double digits and three players — Brooks, Collins and graduate center River Baldwin — grabbed 10 or more rebounds.
The Wolfpack’s depth is one of its most powerful assets and one of the biggest reasons why it is the No. 3 team in the nation — opponents are unable to stop this team simply by taking away one or two players.
Up next, the Pack is set to travel to Tampa, Florida to take on the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, Dec. 16.
