No. 3 NC State vs No. 15 Louisville | 2024 Play4Kay Game | 2.5.24

RALEIGH – https://linktr.ee/womensbasketballall...

Third-ranked NC State women's basketball (20-2, 8-2) won its fifth straight on Monday night, defeating No. 15 Louisville (19-4, 8-2) by a 77-67 score in Reynolds Coliseum.

The game was the program's 19th Annual Play4Kay Game. Play4Kay celebrates the life of legendary head coach Kay Yow and honors all who have battled cancer. Through the generous support of Wolfpack Nation, the university community and multiple local businesses, NC State raised $538,005.86 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund surrounding this year's game.

Aziaha James led the way for the Wolfpack with a game-high 28 points, while Madison Hayes (12 points) and River Baldwin (1- points) also finished in double figures. Hayes additionally contributed 10 rebounds to record her fourth double-double of the season. A strong offensive effort from NC State was aided by five assists from Saniya Rivers and four from Zoe Brooks.

After a tightly-contested first quarter, NC State found itself ahead 28-22 after working back from a four-point Louisville lead to outscore the Cardinals by 10 points over the final 5:12 of the opening frame.

Carrying its momentum into the next period, the Pack outscored the Cardinals 18-9 in the second quarter and led 47-30 at halftime. NC State held Louisville without a field goal for 8:16 of play in the second frame, forcing the Cardinals into five turnovers over the entirety of the second quarter alone.

While Louisville fought back to bring the score within two possessions on three separate occasions during the fourth, the Pack had an answer each time for a Cardinal spurt, resulting in a 10-point ACC victory for the Wolfpack.

In what was only Louisville's second loss in league play, the Wolfpack held a double-digit edge over the Cardinals for over 20 minutes of play in Monday's contest after Louisville had trailed by double figures in only 3:38 of its previous 240 minutes in ACC action.

With the win, NC State improved to a perfect 12-0 on its home floor in 2023-24, having won 14 straight at home dating back to 2022-23. The win also extended the Wolfpack's winning streak over the Cardinals to five games, with that run starting after NC State's 74-60 upset win over top-ranked Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center on Feb. 1, 2021.

NC State returns to action for the final leg of its three-game homestand on Thursday, Feb. 8, as the Pack welcomes No. 16 Virginia Tech to Reynolds Coliseum. Tipoff between the Wolfpack and Hokies is slated for 8 p.m., with the game televised on the ACC Network. Thursday's contest is sold out, but fans who are interested in purchasing tickets may do so on SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan marketplace of the Wolfpack.