In the middle of a grueling ACC stretch where every possession can decide seeding, hosting rights, and NCAA Tournament positioning, the NC State women’s basketball team could have wilted. They didn’t. Fresh off a heartbreaking 61-59 loss to North Carolina just days earlier, the Wolfpack responded with back-to-back statement victories — first a blowout of Florida State, then a clinic on the road in Blacksburg.
On Sunday, NC State traveled to Cassell Coliseum and delivered a complete performance, routing Virginia Tech 82-62. It was their first win in Blacksburg since 2022, snapping a two-year drought in one of the league’s toughest venues. The numbers tell the tale of dominance:
- Final score: NC State 82, Virginia Tech 62
- Shooting: 46% FG (29-63), 38% 3PT (6-16), 95% FT (18-19)
- Key edge: Outscored VT 25-8 in the second quarter during a decisive 21-2 run
- Defense: Forced 16 turnovers, 10 steals, held Hokies to 38% shooting and 22% from three
- Paint control: 44-36 advantage
Zoe Brooks exploded for 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and a career-high 6 steals. Khamil Pierre matched her with 25 points and added 12 rebounds — her 16th double-double of the season. Zamareya Jones added 16 points with four threes. The entire roster bought in.
“This wasn’t just a win. It was another example of the heart and grit that has defined this Wolfpack group all season. After the UNC defeat, head coach Wes Moore praised exactly that quality.
“I was proud of the way the team came out after a tough loss the other night,” Moore said following the FSU win. “We were able to come out after a tough loss and bounce back with a lot of resilience.”
That resilience carried straight into Blacksburg. Tied at 19 after the first quarter, NC State refused to let the road environment rattle them. They flipped the script with suffocating defense and timely offense, turning a competitive game into a rout.
Moore captured the bigger picture after the Virginia Tech victory:
“I’m really proud of our team. We’ve come a long way. I know we all have high expectations — we’ve finished in the top ten six out of the last seven years. We all feel the pain, okay. But this team is coming together and playing better and a little more focused. So I like where we’re at.”
The Wolfpack now stands at 18-7 overall and 11-3 in the ACC, locked into the conversation for a top-four seed and double bye. After a full week to recover and prepare, they’ll take this momentum into a massive nationally televised showdown against Notre Dame on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. ET in South Bend (ESPN).
This group continues to prove something important: talent gets you in the door, but resilience, heart, and grit keep you in the fight. The Wolfpack just reminded the entire ACC they have all three in abundance. The road to March is still wide open — and NC State looks more than ready to run it.
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