NC State women’s basketball hosts Liberty on Wednesday at Reynolds Coliseum. The Pack are 2-1 after a 93-78 loss to No. 14 Kentucky on Sunday at the Ally Tipoff. This is the first home game since the 80-45 win over Campbell.

Game details

• Opponent: Liberty
• When: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m.
• Where: Reynolds Coliseum
• TV: ACCNX
• Radio / Varsity Network: Ernie and Andrew, 6:45 p.m.
• Next: At Seton Hall, Sunday, Nov. 15

The number: 34. That is how many points Khamil Pierre scored against Kentucky, a new high in her NC State career and her third career 30-point game. She had double-doubles of 21 and 11 against Campbell and 15 and 11 against Wofford. Zoe Brooks scored 13 points against the Wildcats, mostly from the free-throw line.

What carries over

• Pierre has been the primary scoring option through three games. She has scored in double figures in every contest and controlled the paint in the two wins. Brooks has been the lead creator and has attacked the free-throw line effectively.
• The Pack forced turnovers and scored in the paint against Wofford and Campbell. Against Kentucky they were outrebounded and could not slow the perimeter shooting. The starting group has featured Pierre, Brooks, Ky’She Lunan, Desiree Wooten and Khady Leye in recent games, with Annsley Trivette contributing off the bench.
• NC State is still looking for consistent perimeter defense after allowing Kentucky to hit 18 threes. Getting back to the defensive intensity from the first two games is the immediate priority.

Liberty

• The Flames are 2-0 after a 73-30 win over Frostburg State and an 82-49 road win at East Carolina. They enter as an unranked opponent looking for an upset on the road.

Three things to watch

• Pierre’s production after the Kentucky game. She carried the offense for long stretches against the Wildcats. How efficiently she scores and rebounds against a different defensive look will set the tone.
• Perimeter defense and transition. Kentucky’s shooting stretched the defense. Limiting open threes and converting turnovers into easy points has been a strength against lesser opponents.
• Zoe Brooks’ status and impact. She left the Kentucky game early after tweaking her hamstring. Whether she is available and how effective she is as the primary creator will shape the offense.

Bottom line
The Kentucky loss showed both the ceiling of Pierre’s scoring and the areas that still need work against a ranked team. Wednesday is a chance to reset at home against an opponent the Pack should control if the defensive habits return. Tip is 7 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum on ACCNX.