RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — No. 24 North Carolina State overwhelmed SMU 91-54 in a women’s basketball game Sunday at Lenovo Center. The Wolfpack established control early with a 25-point first quarter and used a decisive 30-point third quarter to pull away for good. Zahra King led all scorers with 22 points for the Mustangs. NC State showcased balanced scoring with Qadence Samuels scoring 16 points, Khamil Pierre adding 14, Tilda Trygger contributing 13 and Zamareya Jones finishing with 15. The Wolfpack dominated inside, outscoring SMU 42-20 in the paint. NC State improved to 12-5 overall. SMU fell to 7-10.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — The North Carolina State women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Sunday afternoon, overwhelming SMU 91-54 at Lenovo Center in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup. The Wolfpack, improving to 12-5 overall, seized control from the opening tip and never relented, using a dominant inside presence and a stifling defensive effort to hand the Mustangs their fourth consecutive loss. SMU fell to 7-10. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the third quarter, where North Carolina State effectively erased any lingering doubt. Leading 40-24 at halftime, the Wolfpack erupted for a 30-point third quarter, outscoring SMU by 19. The period was defined by a relentless 17-4 run that stretched the lead to 29 points, transforming a comfortable advantage into an insurmountable one. North Carolina State’s offensive execution was clinical during the surge, fueled by its significant advantages in the paint and off turnovers. The Wolfpack finished with 42 points in the paint and scored 19 points off SMU’s mistakes, consistently converting defensive stops into easy transition opportunities. Zamareya Jones, a guard from Greenville, North Carolina, ignited the run with a 3-pointer, while forwards Khamil Pierre and Qadence Samuels repeatedly found seams in the SMU defense for high-percentage shots. Pierre, a sophomore from Phoenix, Arizona, finished with 14 points, while Samuels, a junior from Forestville, Maryland, led all scorers with 16 points. Their efficiency inside highlighted the stark statistical disparity, as the Wolfpack’s interior dominance overwhelmed a Mustangs squad that managed only 20 paint points. SMU guard Zahra King provided the primary resistance for the visitors. The Brooklyn, New York, native played 36 minutes and scored a team-high 22 points, but her efforts were largely isolated. The Mustangs struggled with the Wolfpack’s length and defensive pressure, committing turnovers that North Carolina State swiftly capitalized on. The Wolfpack’s depth was on full display, with all 10 players who saw action making tangible contributions. Swedish center Tilda Trygger, standing 6-foot-6, posted 13 points and anchored the defense. Guard Zoe Brooks of Plainfield, New Jersey, filled the stat sheet with 11 points and three blocks. Off the bench, Adelaide Jernigan of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, provided a significant spark with nine points in just 11 minutes. For SMU, Anaya Brown of Lexington, Kentucky, contributed six points and two blocks, and Jzaniya Harriel of Sacramento, California, added nine points. The Mustangs showed brief flashes, including a 7-0 run late in the second quarter, but could not sustain any momentum against the Wolfpack’s consistent, multifaceted attack. North Carolina State set the tone early, racing to a 25-9 lead after the first quarter. The Wolfpack shot efficiently from the field and locked down defensively, holding SMU to single-digit scoring in the opening period. The lead never dipped below 14 points the rest of the way. The victory keeps North Carolina State in the upper tier of the ACC standings as it prepares for a road test at Wake Forest on Thursday. SMU, still seeking its first conference win, returns home to host Virginia Tech on Thursday. An announced crowd of 5,500 at Lenovo Center watched the Wolfpack execute a game plan that leveraged their size, depth, and defensive intensity from start to finish, securing a victory that was never in question after the decisive third-quarter onslaught.

Preview: SMU Mustangs at NC State Wolfpack RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — The North Carolina State women’s basketball team looks to rebound from a conference road loss when it hosts SMU in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup Sunday at Lenovo Center. The Wolfpack (11-5), receiving votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, fell 75-65 at Clemson on Thursday, snapping a five-game winning streak. NC State had previously dominated a homestand, including a 74-46 rout of then-Stanford and a 71-60 win over California. SMU (7-9) arrives seeking its first ACC victory, having dropped its first three conference contests. The Mustangs fell 67-59 to Georgia Tech at home last Sunday. A key matchup will feature two of the league’s top guards. NC State is led by sophomore Zoe Brooks, who averages 15.8 points and 4.5 assists in conference play. She posted 15 points and six assists in the loss to Clemson. SMU counters with junior Zahra King, who is averaging 18.3 points over her last four games. She scored 21 points in the loss to Georgia Tech. Forward Grace Hall, who had 10 points and five rebounds in that game, provides interior support. The Wolfpack have been strong defensively at home, holding opponents to an average of 57.2 points during their current 6-1 stretch in Raleigh. They will aim to contain a Mustangs offense that has been held under 60 points in three of its last five outings. NC State holds a distinct experience advantage in ACC play. This marks SMU’s first season in the conference after moving from the American Athletic Conference. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST Sunday. NC State travels to Wake Forest on Thursday. SMU returns home to host Virginia Tech the same day.