No. 25 NC State kept the good vibes rolling Wednesday night in Raleigh, turning in another lopsided performance and knocking off Campbell 80-45.
After a blowout win over Wofford earlier in the week, the Wolfpack once again looked in control on both ends, with Khamil Pierre leading the way and posting her second double-double in two games. NC State never let the Camels get comfortable, even if the opening quarter stayed closer than the final score suggested.
Campbell hung around early and trailed by just five after the first period. Zoe Brooks opened with a quick three to give NC State an early lift, but the first-quarter spark came from freshman Annsley Trivette, who was the first player off the bench and immediately made an impact. She finished the quarter with a team-high eight points, going perfect on her three shots and adding one from deep.
The second quarter belonged to Pierre. She fueled a scoring burst that pushed NC State to a 12-point cushion by the media timeout, while Desiree Wooten set up teammates and finished the half with three assists. Pierre had already reached 14 points by halftime, going 6-for-11 from the field and perfect at the line.
NC State’s defense tightened the screws even more in the second quarter, holding Campbell to just seven points as the Wolfpack stretched the lead to 20 at the break. Brooks had nine points by halftime, and she capped the half in style by inbounding the ball to herself off her defender before finishing at the rim with three seconds left.
The third quarter was more of the same. NC State opened the half with an 8-0 run in the first two minutes and never let up.
Pierre locked up her double-double by the third quarter, sitting at 21 points, 11 rebounds and one assist with one period left to play. Brooks also reached double figures in the third, building on her strong start to the season.
That quarter was the knockout blow, with NC State pouring in 25 points while Campbell managed just six. The fourth quarter was quieter, as the Wolfpack eased off and the Camels outscored them 16-12 with several NC State starters on the bench.
Next up, the Wolfpack will face its first true test of the season: No. 14 Kentucky in Charlotte on Sunday.
In Other News...
NC State Lands A Visit That Could Test Its Recruiting Ceiling
A major international prospect is making the rounds, and NC State has secured a stop on a recruiting trip that says plenty about the level of player involved. Matija Luki, a Serbian wing with a professional background in Spain and a track record of success with his national team, is visiting Raleigh as college programs jockey for position with one of the most intriguing young talents on the board.
Lukis appeal is easy to understand from the Wolfpacks perspective. He brings size, shooting touch and experience against high-level competition, and his rsum already includes medals with Serbia at FIBA youth events. For NC State, getting him on campus is the first step in a process that could tell the staff a lot about how far its recruiting reach can go in a battle for an elite international prospect. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Heads Into Duke With Major Lineup Questions
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The bigger concern is how many key names are still in limbo. Teague Andersen, Preston Douglas and Duke Scott are among the players listed as questionable, while Ronnie Royal III and Harvey Dyson III are on the probable side of the ledger. NC State will keep monitoring those statuses as the week goes on, and the final shape of the lineup could go a long way toward determining how much flexibility the Wolfpack has when it gets to Durham. [Read more 🡒]
NC States First Home Test Will Show How Ready This Team Is
NC States first real home checkpoint arrives with a little more intrigue than a typical early-season tune-up. The Wolfpack are still sorting out new roles and adjusting to fresh schemes, so the meeting with ETSU offers a useful read on how quickly the group is coming together in front of its own fans. It is also the kind of game that can reveal whether the early work has translated once the lights are on and the pressure feels a little more immediate.
ETSU comes in after a loss to Arizona State and will have to navigate another difficult road assignment under coach Brooks Savage. The matchup carries added weight for the visitors because of the roster hit they are dealing with, and NC State will be looking to take advantage of that while continuing to settle into its own identity. For the Wolfpack, the bigger question is not just whether they win, but how sharp they look while doing it. [Read more 🡒]