The ACC is proving to be just as challenging this year as it has been in the 11 years that Coach Wes Moore has been at No. 3 North Carolina State.

Moore is aware that the Wolfpack cannot afford to make a mistake if they want to be in first place. They successfully avoided one in a victory of 83-47 against the rebuilding Pittsburgh on Sunday. This win came after a defeat at home against No. 16 Virginia Tech on Thursday. In the second quarter, they were able to establish dominance and pull away from the Panthers.

“We have consistently emphasized the importance of taking each game as it comes and not allowing a single game to hinder our progress,” stated center River Baldwin, who recorded 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. “It’s all about our mentality.”

The Wolfpack, who were larger and more physically fit, with a record of 21-3 and 9-3 in the ACC, dominated the Panthers by outrebounding them 47-38 and outscoring them 38-18 in the paint. This was their ninth consecutive victory over Pitt, who has a record of 7-18 and 1-11 in the ACC.

N.C. State’s Madison Hayes scored 16 points to lead the team, but their victory may have come with a significant price. In the third quarter, forward Mimi Collins had to be assisted off the court after getting tangled up in a group of players under the Pitt basket.

Collins ended the game with 13 points, going 6-for-6 from the field. She seemed to be favoring her left leg as she hobbled to the locker room.

“We will perform the imaging procedure on Monday and hope that it reveals a minor issue,” stated Moore. “Ideally, rest would be sufficient, but if not, a less invasive option such as a scope would be positive news. Our goal is to have her return as soon as possible.”

NC State’s shooting percentage was only 35% in their game against the Hokies. Baldwin only scored four points and made one field goal, while Collins had zero points and missed all nine of his shots.

The smaller Panthers did not present any challenges. N.C. State utilized a wide court strategy and focused on finding 6-foot-5 Baldwin inside. He successfully made 6 out of 8 shots and had little difficulty reaching the low block.

In the initial quarter, the Panthers put up a good fight, primarily thanks to senior Liatu King’s successful jump shots. However, their offensive efforts were limited to King’s scoring, and as the Wolfpack picked up their pace, Pitt found it challenging to keep pace.

Pitt’s top scorer was Aaryn Battle with 11 points. Marley Washenitz and Jala Jordan each contributed 10 points for the team. Despite averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds per game, King only scored nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds, her second-lowest performance of the season.

The N.C. State team had a strong offensive performance in the second quarter, shooting 81% from the field and easily breaking through Pitt’s ineffective zone defense. Whether it was scoring on fast breaks or executing inside passes to Baldwin, the Wolfpack dominated with a 53-20 lead that Pitt never stood a chance of catching up to.

BIG PICTURE

North Carolina State University: Following three consecutive home games against highly-ranked opponents, the Wolfpack started a series of four out of five games on the road by comfortably defeating a low-ranked Pitt team in their conference.

Pitt: The Panthers have nowhere to go but up under first-year head coach Tory Verdi. While King has been one of the best (and most unheralded) players in the ACC, there is plenty of work to be done.

Source: wralsportsfan.com