Comeback kids: NC State women defeat Syracuse on the road after big fourth quarter

N.C. State typically isn’t afraid to be aggressive and is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. However, it didn’t look like itself at Syracuse for large chunks of Thursday’s game, and it was almost costly.

A strong surge in the fourth quarter gave the Wolfpack its 11th win in the last 12 games. The victory wasn’t without adversity.

N.C. State worked back from a 10-point halftime deficit — its largest against an ACC opponent — to defeat Syracuse, 74-66, on the road. It outscored the home team 42-24 in the second half, including a 20-9 performance in the fourth quarter.

The Orange (7-12, 1-6 ACC) outworked the Wolfpack on 50/50 balls and the glass, looking far more engaged on hustle plays for most of the night, and played like it wanted the win more. In fact, the home squad led for 34:26 and seemed poised for an upset over the No. 20 team in the nation.

The Wolfpack (15-4, 7-1 ACC) entered the game averaging 41.6 rebounds per game, including 29.2 on the defensive end. Syracuse out-rebounded N.C. State, 49-40, and scored 16 second-chance points off of offensive boards.

“On any given night, any team can win at the end of the day,” guard Zoe Brooks said. “We’re all Division I basketball players. Anybody can win, doesn’t matter if we’re supposed to win or if the other team supposed to win. Whoever wants some more is gonna win the game.

“We played together, and we found a way to win.”

N.C. State struggled on both ends of the floor to start the game, which allowed Syracuse to get hot. The Wolfpack gave up 24 points on 11-of-20 shooting (55%), while shooting 7 of 19 (36.8%) on offense. The Orange’s 24 points tied a season high for opponent points scored in the first quarter.

It was better in the second quarter, when the defense settled in. The Wolfpack held Syracuse scoreless for more than three minutes early in the second period and forced five straight missed shots. N.C. State utilized that drought to cut the Orange’s lead to four points, but it still couldn’t stop Syracuse’s late surge.

N.C. State trailed by 10 points at halftime — its largest halftime deficit against an ACC opponent this season.

“They’re coming off a rough loss Sunday. I knew they’d be ready to play and (coach Felisha Legette-Jack) would have them ready. We came out not ready, and we’re fortunate,” N.C. State head coach Wes Moore said. “I think Syracuse came out fired up, had more energy and took it to us. And I think they got confidence and got momentum, and we were in trouble.”

The Wolfpack found a rhythm in the third, but its offense went cold again in the fourth. N.C. State started the final period 1 of 10 from the field, while the Orange was 1 of 7. An 11-0 run in the final 2:18 lifted the Pack past the Orange for another big win in ACC play.

Brooks deserves a lot of credit for her efforts in the win. The guard made a jumper with 3:18 remaining in the game and gave N.C. State its first lead since the team’s first score. She led the team with 19 points, while adding eight rebounds, six assists and only turning the ball over once. She went 9 of 10 from the line, as well, including 5 of 6 in the fourth.

Madison Hayes added 18 points, nine rebounds — one rebound shy of what would’ve been a third straight double-double — two blocks and two steals.

“We’ve asked Madison to do stuff probably we shouldn’t ask. She’s having to guard on the block some, she’s having to really be a contributor on the boards, and, obviously, she knocks down some big 3 for us; does a little bit of everything. We need her to hopefully keep going like that. She is playing maybe her best basketball right now,” Moore said.

Georgia Wooley returned to the Syracuse lineup after missing the Orange’s previous game. She had 15 points, six boards and three assists.

Here are three takeaways from N.C. State’s comeback victory.

Zone doesn’t favor the Pack

Syracuse opened the game in a zone defense, something the Wolfpack offense sometimes struggles with, and it worked as intended. N.C. State looked out of sync on the offensive end, settling for jump shots instead of driving inside.

Moore said on Sunday that he felt like the team has done all right this season against the zone, but struggled against Virginia’s.

“I think it disrupted us a little bit,” Moore said previously. “They did a really good job of getting out. The thing about a 3-2, (with) your bigs having to go out and guard the corner, you’ve got to attack that, and we didn’t always do it. Definitely something we’ll have to refocus on.”

Despite Moore’s message, the Pack struggled to attack on the road. For an offense that often takes time to warm up, this is something the team needs to figure out down the stretch.

Cold as ice from outside

The Wolfpack entered the game shooting 34.5% from 3-point range; not lights out, but certainly respectable. Its performance from the perimeter against Syracuse not only hurt its average, but it also put N.C. State in a deficit to start the evening.

The Pack shot 1 of 10 from the arc in the first half; its only make was Madison Hayes’ 3 to give N.C. State its first basket of the night.

Hayes made the second 3 of the game at the top of the key with 4 minutes left in the third. The Pack went 3 of 3 from long range in the third period, but that efficiency didn’t continue. It went 0-4 in the fourth.

N.C. State finished the night 4 of 17 from 3-point range, far below its season average.

Freshmen provide lift

Freshmen Lorena Awou and Zamareya Jones entered the game for the Wolfpack, playing when the Pack needed a spark.

Awou played 16 minutes and contributed five points, four rebounds, one block and one steal.

“To be honest, we were kind of struggling at the spot,” Moore said about the decision to play Awou. “The coaches were encouraging, ‘Let’s try her,’ and she stepped up in a big way. Luckily, tonight, when she got in there, she did a nice job. That probably earned her some more opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Jones scored five points, pulled down three rebounds and dished out a pair of assists. This was Jones’ third game back after missing roughly a month because of injury.

Their contributions and overall energy helped N.C. State pull off another hard-fought win and gave them significant experience that they’ll need as the season progresses.