North Carolina State pulled off a major upset in the Elite Eight, defeating No. 1 seed Texas 76-66 to advance to the Final Four for only the second time in program history. Aziaha James was the star of the game, scoring a career-high 27 points to lead the Wolfpack to victory. Despite Texas’ strong offensive efforts, particularly from Maddie Booker, NC State’s dominant performance proved too much for the Longhorns to overcome.
The game started off strongly in NC State’s favor, with Texas struggling to keep up. The Wolfpack raced out to a 40-22 lead by halftime, putting Texas in danger of being doubled up before the first two quarters had even passed. However, Texas managed to mount a comeback late in the second quarter, going on a 9-3 run to cut the deficit and gaining momentum heading into the second half.
While James had a scorching hot start, scoring 21 points in the first half, Texas was able to contain her in the third quarter. This allowed her teammates, River Baldwin and Mimi Collins, to step up and contribute offensively. Baldwin finished the game with 16 points, while Collins added 10, helping to maintain NC State’s lead despite Texas’ efforts to close the gap. James managed to add another six points in the second half to secure the victory for the Wolfpack.
Although Texas made a late push to narrow the deficit to single digits, they were ultimately unable to overtake NC State. The Wolfpack’s strong performance, particularly from James, Baldwin, and Collins, proved too much for the Longhorns to handle. NC State’s victory sends them to the Final Four, while Texas is left to reflect on a disappointing end to their tournament run.
In the Final Four, NC State will face off against undefeated No. 1 seed South Carolina, who secured their spot in the next round with a win over Oregon State. The matchup between NC State and South Carolina promises to be an exciting one, with both teams vying for a chance to compete for the national championship. NC State will look to continue their impressive tournament run and make history by advancing to the title game.
