With its leader — junior guard Zoe Brooks — sidelined due to an injury sustained in its Round of 64 game, No. 7 seed NC State women’s basketball couldn’t hang with No. 2 seed Michigan on its home court in Ann Arbor, falling 92-63 and ending its 2025-26 season in the Round of 32.
Facing a Michigan (27-6, 15-3 ACC) team that had just one loss at home and without its star player, the odds were stacked against the Pack (21-11, 13-5 ACC), which had just a 15.3% chance of winning according to ESPN. NC State opened with a new starting lineup as sophomore guard Zam Jones took over Brooks’ role as the offensive stalwart and freshman guard Ky’She Lunan made her first career start.
With a one-point lead after the first 10 minutes, there was a glimmer of hope for the Wolfpack. But the Michigan defense imposed its will and forced six-straight turnovers in the first five minutes of the second quarter, holding the NC State offense without a bucket for the time-frame.
Still, the Pack fought back and rallied after a timeout from head coach Wes Moore, switching from man coverage to a box-and-one zone defense. The audible worked as NC State forced six straight stops and began to claw its way back behind four and-1 opportunities, working its way back to just a three-point deficit by halftime.
But Michigan proved why it was a top-10 team throughout the regular season and into the tournament, outscoring the Wolfpack 32-19 in the third quarter. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, NC State was simply out of energy and options, and three-straight Wolverine 3-pointers put the final nails in the Wolfpack’s coffin.
Michigan took over in every facet, outrebounding and outshooting NC State, but the biggest margin came in the turnovers. The Wolverines turned the ball over just six times throughout the contest, while the Wolfpack turned it over 22 times.
The red-and-white simply had no answer for Michigan’s full-court press, and without Brooks — a crafty player known for her poise and handles — the Wolfpack struggled just to get the ball beyond halfcourt. The Wolverines took full advantage, scoring 35 points off turnovers and making the most of its extra possessions.
Jones left it all on the court with 16 points, nine assists and four blocks, but a costly seven turnovers, while junior forward Khamil Pierre — the Pack’s go-to post scorer — marked 15 points and nine rebounds.
The loss highlighted NC State’s lack of bench development. Lunan drew five quick fouls and spent just 14 minutes on the court, causing sophomore guard Devyn Quigley to see the most playing time of her career with 30 minutes. When the Pack was in man coverage, Michigan directly targeted Quigley on the offensive end, attacking her on drives to the paint.
The good news for the Pack is that its lack of seniors this season allows every player to be eligible to return next season, giving Moore the ability to simply add on to this year’s roster without the pressure of replacing players, something that haunted the Pack in the offseason last year.
The Pack will return in November with a more experienced and thorough roster, vying to make its 10th-straight NCAA Tournament.
