No. 3 NC State women’s basketball still unbeaten. How the Pack beat No. 22 Florida State

The Cardiac Pack struck again Thursday, earning a tough overtime win over ranked Florida State.

No. 3 N.C. State (14-0, 2-0 ACC) edged the No. 22 Seminoles (11-4, 2-1 ACC), 88-80, at Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack’s victory gives the program its fourth 14-0 start in school history, the third under head coach Wes Moore. It extended the team’s home winning streak to 10 games, as well.

Five other Division I women’s basketball teams remain undefeated.

Graduate center River Baldwin transferred from Florida State two seasons ago. She led the team with 21 points before leaving the game with an injury.

Four other players finished in double figures. Junior Saniya Rivers struggled in the first half, shooting just 1-for-7 from the field, but she finished with 12 points. Junior Aziaha James added 18, including a big 3-pointer in overtime.

The game featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes, including the Florida State layup that knotted the game at 74 to end regulation.

“We just reminded them, ‘Hey, we’re not gonna lose at home. We’re gonna find a way to get it done,’” Moore said. “We were 3-for-15 for the game from 3, and we hit two out of three in the overtime. They stepped up, hit some big shots, got a few stops. This is a great win. Florida State’s a very talented team, high-ranked team.”

Senior Madison Hayes said Moore’s belief and confidence helps each player. He doesn’t panic and knows how to use each person effectively. Moore said he constantly works on that — his friends would probably call him a pessimist — but this team also gives him reasons to trust it.

“Tonight, everything didn’t go the way you’d like, but they found a way to get it done,” Moore said. “I’m proud of them for that and that does give you confidence that they’re going to make a play when they have to.”

Here are four takeaways from the Wolfpack’s victory over the Seminoles.

Baldwin balls out

Baldwin didn’t earn preseason honors, but she made another case to earn postseason recognition before leaving the game with an injury. Moore hadn’t spoken to the medical staff when he spoke to the media, but said it was an ankle injury.

Baldwin scored 12 of the team’s 20 first-quarter points, making 6-of-7 shot attempts, and pulled down five rebounds. She continued the effective playmaking, logging 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 27 minutes.

She scored in double figures just five times last year, but on Thursday picked up her ninth double-digit performance of the season, and fourth in a row.

Even when she wasn’t scoring, Baldwin went after loose balls and wasn’t afraid to take charges — she finished with five of those, as well.

“We did it for River, for real,” James said. “She came from that school, so she definitely wanted to beat them. It was hard for us to see her go down, so I felt, as a team, we took it upon ourselves and did it for her at the end.”

Rebounding advantage

N.C. State finished with a 47-43 rebounding advantage, pulling down 14 rebounds on the offensive end.

The Pack boasted a balanced effort off the glass, with graduate student Mimi Collins recording 11 and four others grabbing five or more.

A large part of the team’s hot start came from its rebounding effort. N.C. State outrebounded the Seminoles, 14-4, in the first quarter.

Florida State can likely attribute Baldwin’s departure, at least in part, for its ability to outrebound the Wolfpack in the second half and force overtime. Moore already knows the team needs to improve its rebounding with Baldwin’s injury.

“With River doing such a great job on the boards down there, now to take that out of the lineup, it ain’t gonna be replaced by one person,” Moore said. “It’s going to take everybody chipping in and and going and getting some boards.”

Too many turnovers

N.C. State averages 13.4 turnovers per game, but it typically makes up for those with effective ball movement. The Pack ranked No. 6 in the ACC for its 1.14 assist/turnover ratio going into the game. The Pack struggled in that area against the Seminoles on Thursday.

The Pack committed eight turnovers in the first half and seven assists in the first half. It finished with 14, which the Seminoles turned into 15 points.

N.C. State made up for its miscues again Thursday, but doesn’t want to make high turnover games a habit — especially after limiting them in four its previous five games.

FSU physicality tests the Pack

Florida State wasn’t afraid to get close and personal with the Wolfpack, playing with physicality and movement.

The Seminoles finished with 11 steals and seven blocks, slowing the Pack’s offense and getting into transition.

FSU finished with 21 personal fouls, as well, which the N.C. State bench — and fans — felt should’ve been more. On the other side, Moore threw a piece of paper into the air after freshman Zoe Brooks was called for her third foul. He often expressed dismay at a lack of calls in favor of the Wolfpack.

Florida State’s tough play wasn’t fun, but it provided the Pack with a test that should serve it well going forward.