WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — The North Carolina State women’s basketball team used a dominant second half to defeat Wake Forest 95-77 on Thursday night at Joel Coliseum. Wake Forest led 33-23 after the first quarter, but the Wolfpack tightened their defense, holding the Demon Deacons to 29 points after halftime. North Carolina State erased the deficit with a 32-point third quarter. The Atlantic Coast Conference win improves North Carolina State to 13-5. Wake Forest falls to 12-7. An announced crowd of 1,858 watched the game.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — A blistering third-quarter surge propelled No. 20 North Carolina State to a decisive 95-77 victory over Wake Forest in an Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Joel Memorial Coliseum. The Wolfpack, trailing by 10 points after a defensively porous first quarter, outscored the Demon Deacons 32-13 in the pivotal third period to seize control. That turnaround flipped a 49-43 halftime deficit into a 75-62 lead entering the final quarter, from which Wake Forest never recovered. North Carolina State’s offense, which sputtered early against Wake Forest’s hot shooting, found its rhythm after halftime by dominating the interior and capitalizing on turnovers. The Wolfpack scored 95 points on just 68 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 139.6, fueled by a 51-34 advantage in points in the paint and 18 second-chance points from 16 offensive rebounds. Khamil Pierre led the charge for the Wolfpack with 26 points and 9 rebounds, consistently attacking the basket. Zamareya Jones added 20 points and 5 assists, while Zoe Brooks orchestrated the offense with 16 points and 9 assists. Tilda Trygger, the 6-foot-6 center from Stockholm, provided a major interior presence with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. Wake Forest started explosively, hitting 6 of 9 from 3-point range in the first quarter to build a 33-23 lead. Mary Carter paced the Demon Deacons with 15 points, and Grace Oliver added 14. Aurora Sørbye contributed 11 points and 4 assists, and Caitlyn Jones came off the bench to score 12. The Demon Deacons’ early success, however, was unsustainable. Their ball movement stagnated, resulting in only 3 total assists for the game compared to North Carolina State’s 17. After their torrid start, Wake Forest cooled to 31-of-60 shooting overall and committed 11 turnovers, which the Wolfpack converted into 19 points. North Carolina State’s defensive pressure intensified in the second half, holding Wake Forest to 28 points over the final two quarters. The Wolfpack also owned the glass, outrebounding the Demon Deacons 42-28. The victory improved North Carolina State to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in the ACC, bouncing back from a conference loss at Clemson their last time out. Wake Forest fell to 12-7 and 2-3 in league play, having lost three straight games. The game’s turning point came early in the third quarter. Trailing 49-46, North Carolina State unleashed a 17-2 run over a four-minute span. The surge featured two 3-pointers from Zamareya Jones, layups by Khamil Pierre and Tilda Trygger, and was fueled by stifling defense that forced multiple Wake Forest turnovers and contested shots. That run gave the Wolfpack a 63-51 lead, and the Demon Deacons could not close the gap within single digits again. North Carolina State’s balanced scoring and efficient offense proved too much. The Wolfpack shot 51% from the field in the second half and made 14 of 17 free throws for the game. Wake Forest, despite shooting 48% from the floor for the game and making 12 3-pointers, attempted only three free throws, making all three. The announced attendance was 1,858. North Carolina State next hosts Louisville on Sunday. Wake Forest travels to face Clemson on Sunday.

Preview: NC State Women Set for ACC Clash at Wake Forest WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings will meet Thursday when the North Carolina State Wolfpack visit the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a women’s basketball matchup. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Joel Coliseum. Both teams enter with identical 12-win records, though NC State (12-5, 2-2 ACC) holds a slight edge in the loss column over Wake Forest (12-6, 1-3 ACC). The Wolfpack are looking to build momentum after a dominant 91-54 nonconference victory over SMU on Sunday. The Demon Deacons, meanwhile, seek to halt a three-game skid, all coming on a difficult West Coast road swing with losses to California, Stanford and Syracuse. A key matchup will feature NC State’s Tilda Trygger against Wake Forest’s Mary Carter. Trygger, a consistent force for the Wolfpack, is averaging 12.4 points over her last five games and is coming off a 13-point, 3-assist performance against SMU. Carter has been a bright spot for Wake Forest during its recent struggles, averaging 12.2 points and 5.2 rebounds over the same stretch. She posted 14 points and seven rebounds in the loss at California. NC State has found its offensive rhythm, scoring 87 or more points in three of its last six games. Beyond Trygger, the Wolfpack have received significant contributions from Zamareya Jones (15 points vs. SMU) and Qadence Samuels (16 points vs. SMU). Wake Forest will need to improve its offensive output after being held under 60 points in three consecutive contests. The Demon Deacons will rely on home-court advantage, where they are 7-2 this season, including an ACC win over Pittsburgh on Jan. 1. NC State is 3-3 in true road games. This contest begins a critical stretch for both squads. NC State hosts Louisville on Sunday, while Wake Forest travels to Clemson.