Written by BOB SUTTON for the Associated Press.

The players of North Carolina State, ranked third, detected a sense of assurance from coach Wes Moore during their Thursday night game when they were at risk of losing their undefeated record.

He was given a generous overtime as a reward.

River Baldwin tallied 21 points against her previous team before being sidelined by an injury. The Wolfpack maintained a lead throughout the additional period, securing an 88-80 victory against No. 22 Florida State.

During the overtime, Moore remained calm, which was noted by N.C. State guard Madison Hayes. She also mentioned that he consistently puts the team in advantageous positions.

In the game against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent, the Wolfpack, led by Aziaha James with 18 points, Zoe Brooks with 15 points, and Saniya Rivers with 12 points, were able to secure a victory with a final score of 11 points. Despite only making three 3-pointers throughout the game, two of those crucial shots were made in overtime by Hayes and James. This marks the third time this season that N.C. State has defeated a Top 25 team.

Moore expressed his trust in the team, acknowledging their ability to succeed and maintain their position. He also highlighted the significance of winning at home.

Ta’Niya Latson scored 30 points for the third consecutive game for Florida State (11-4, 2-1), leading the team to a comeback victory after being down by 12 points in the fourth quarter. O’Mariah Gordon contributed 15 points and Makayla Timpson added 13.

“We brought them to the edge,” commented Florida State coach Brooke Wyckoff. “We must take this as a lesson and realize our potential. Strong teams always have consequences for mistakes… The players are disappointed, and I understand. However, we gained valuable knowledge. We witnessed our potential.”

NC State’s 63-51 advantage in the fourth quarter was reduced to 67-64 after Gordon’s successful 3-point shot. Latson’s consecutive successful drives for points brought the score to 72-70, and her two free throws with 1:01 remaining tied the game.

James made a basket while driving towards the basket and Latson did the same. Both teams were unable to score on their final possessions of regulation, resulting in a tie at 74 points.

“Unfortunately, that last play did not go smoothly,” stated Wyckoff. “It was tipped.”

Mimi Collins contributed nine points and 11 rebounds to N.C. State’s score.

Before injuring her ankle and leaving the game in the third quarter with 42 seconds remaining, Baldwin had successfully drawn five offensive fouls. Unfortunately, the fifth-year senior center was unable to return. In her previous game against Virginia, she had scored a personal season-high of 12 points in the ACC.

After two significant shifts in momentum during the third quarter, N.C. State held a 59-51 lead going into the fourth quarter.

In the beginning of the second half, Florida State went on an 11-2 streak to take a 45-42 lead. However, the Wolfpack fought back, with Collins making a 3-pointer and Brooks scoring during a fast break to give N.C. State a 54-48 advantage.

In her second season with N.C. State, Baldwin, who previously played for the Seminoles for three years, had a strong first half, shooting 8 for 11. Prior to the game, she had been averaging 10.5 points per game.

Moore expressed pride in our determination, stating that River Baldwin was performing exceptionally well. However, when she left the game, the opposing team gained momentum and made a strong comeback.

In the first half, the Wolfpack had a shooting percentage of 52.9% and were leading 40-34, even though they did not make any 3-point shots. Baldwin was responsible for 12 of N.C. State’s initial 20 points.

During the first half, Latson made 3 out of 11 shots from the field.

In February 2021, Florida State achieved a victory over a top 5 team by defeating then-No. 3 Louisville.

BIG PICTURE

Florida State: Unfortunately, the Seminoles were unable to maintain their momentum in overtime and suffered their first loss in three away games this season.

N.C. State: The team was able to drive into the lane frequently, leading to opportunities for scoring once Baldwin left the game. While there were some concerning moments, facing tough opponents like this will prepare them for conference games.

UP NEXT

On Sunday, Florida State will play against Clemson.

North Carolina State will play against No. 13 Virginia Tech on Sunday.
___
AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Source: wralsportsfan.com