There was plenty of woulda-coulda in the final minute for NC State on Sunday afternoon as the Wolfpack erased a double-figure deficit down the stretch to give itself a very good chance at grabbing the win.
After Zoe Brooks scored to make it a one-point deficit, NC State got a turnover and a shot from Aziaha James in transition, but her three-ball did not go down, and TCU managed to hold on. It was a tough way to end it, but the ladies deserve a lot of credit for putting themselves in that position to begin with.
TCU put together an excellent third quarter to assert control, extending a two-point halftime advantage to 10 by the fourth quarter. NC State trailed 70-59 before beginning its charge with six minutes left.
The difference-makers for the Horned Frogs were Sedona Prince, who had 31 points, and excellent ball security, as they turned it over just four times. Led by Prince’s 14-23 shooting inside the arc, TCU shot 28-54 on twos. NC State’s interior defense just didn’t have enough answers.
The lack of rim protection was an obvious problem, and State’s trio of bigs combined for two points and nine boards in 40 minutes. Tough to overcome that, though NC State’s guards, and Aziaha James in particular, were almost good enough to do it.
NC State returns to the court against Coastal Carolina on Thursday.