The final score was 71-47, but the box score tells a cleaner story than the game itself. NC State turned a messy first half into a comfortable win by flipping the second half, and the numbers show exactly where that shift happened and where the Pack still left points on the floor.

What Worked

The second half turnaround was the story of the box score. NC State outscored Liberty 43-22 after the break and flipped the offensive rebounding battle from 6-11 at the half to a 12-2 edge in the second half. That rebounding shift, combined with holding Liberty scoreless for the final 8:48, is how a messy game became a 71-47 win.

The Pack also created 27 points off turnovers. When the half-court offense was stuck, the defense kept generating easy buckets. Qadence Samuels finished with 11 rebounds and never let the early physicality bury her. Annsley Trivette checked in and immediately changed the energy, going 4-of-5 from the field with seven offensive boards. Kamora Pruitt went 3-of-5 from three, all in the fourth quarter when the Pack still needed someone to make shots.

What Did Not

The free throws were the clear miss. NC State left 14 points at the line. Moore said they’re hitting around 80% in practice and still don’t have an answer for why it didn’t translate. Against a team that was already more physical in the first half, those missed free throws kept Liberty in the game longer than they should have been.

The first half overall was a problem. Liberty was more physical, got downhill at will, and owned the offensive glass early. With Zoe Brooks out, the offense lacked its usual punch and the Pack looked like it was still sorting out roles. Desiree Wooten played all 40 minutes running the point, which is a credit to her, but it also shows how thin the creation was without Brooks.

The three-point shooting outside of Pruitt’s late burst was not a strength either. When Liberty packed the paint and forced the Pack to finish, the perimeter didn’t consistently punish it. Moore was clear afterward that this group still has to clean up a lot of things in a hurry. The second half showed they can respond. The box score shows they still have to be better from the start, and better at the line, before the trip to Seton Hall.