It’s no secret that NC State women’s basketball hasn’t been anywhere close to the lofty expectations set upon it in the preseason. With the second-highest average opponent NET ranking amongst Power Four schools and a 1-2 record against ranked opponents, the odds weren’t great for its ACC/SEC Challenge matchup at No. 9 Oklahoma. Facing the No. 1 rebounding team in the nation in the most hostile environment it’s played in all season, it seemed as though all hope was lost.
But NC State fought through the adversity, leading for 27 minutes and holding a seven-point lead entering the fourth quarter. It even controlled the rebounding margin by nearly double digits as its odds to win shot as high as 93.2%.
And yet, as done in previous games, the Wolfpack (5-4) failed to close out the Sooners (8-1), squandering the fourth-quarter lead and falling 103-98 in overtime.
If you only take a quick glance at the final box score, it’s hard to see just where the Wolfpack went wrong. Junior forward Khamil Pierre led the charge on the glass, recording her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 20 rebounds.
It wasn’t a scoring problem either. Sophomore guard Zamareya Jones scored a career-high 26 points — her fifth straight game in double figures — while junior guard Zoe Brooks scored a season-high 25.
But if you look closer, the Wolfpack had some glaring issues that led to its downfall.
The Pack failed to stay out of foul trouble with a season-high 23 fouls. Both Brooks and sophomore forward Tilda Trygger fouled out in overtime, forcing inexperienced players like sophomore guard Devyn Quigley and junior forward Maddie Cox to pick up the scraps in the final period.
NC State had absolutely no answer for Oklahoma’s star freshman Aaliyah Chavez, who exploded for a career-high 33 points on 50% from the field. And when the Wolfpack overcommitted trying to stop Chavez, the Sooners’ Raegan Beers dominated in the paint with 21 points — seven of which came in overtime.
But arguably the most alarming metric was the Wolfpack’s 3-point shooting. It took 25 shots from beyond the arc, but only three found the bottom of the net, marking an abysmal shooting percentage of 12%. In this day and age of college basketball, success from long range is essential for any team that considers itself a contender.
With just one game remaining before conference play, NC State is nearly out of time to fix these issues. The ACC is one of, if not the most competitive conference in women’s basketball, and the Wolfpack will be eaten alive if such issues persist. It can’t rely on new season-highs and career-highs to bail itself out.
The Wolfpack returns to Reynolds Coliseum for its final non-conference game before ACC play, hosting Seton Hall on Sunday, Dec. 7. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
