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N.C. State’s Khamil Pierre (12) prepares to shoot as Maryland’s Rainey Welson (0) defends during the first half of N.C. StateÕs exhibition game against Maryland at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., Sunday Oct. 26, 2025.
ehyman@newsobserver.com
GREENSBORO
N.C. State women’s basketball has the pieces to be a legitimate contender once again, but it also room to grow.
The Wolfpack is young, but had moments against Tennessee when it looked like a veteran team, primarily with plays from Zoe Brooks, Zamareya Jones and Tilda Trygger. When Brooks and Trygger were unable to get a clean shot off, they found Jones for an open 3-pointer. There were times Jones and Brooks made passes reminiscent of the ones often made between now-WNBA guards Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James.
There were also moments when NC State’s inexperience showed up — lack of communication on defense, friendly fire collisions when trying to grab rebounds and poor shot selection.
No. 9 N.C. State (1-0) weathered a tough, experienced Tennessee team to pick up an 80-77 win Tuesday to start the season.
The Wolfpack looked rattled to start the second quarter, as it struggled on both ends of the floor, and did not make a basket for almost three minutes into the period. No. 8 Tennessee’s (0-1) strong start to the quarter allowed the Vols to take a lead, which they extended to 10 points with three minutes remaining in the first half.
N.C. State settled in and went to the locker room down four . The Wolfpack looked more cohesive when it returned to play. It held the Volunteers scoreless for three minutes and went on an 11-0 scoring run to retake the lead, with freshman Ky’She Lunan scoring five points during the stretch.
Tennessee didn’t falter and retook the lead with 3:55 remaining in the game, using a 7-0 run to overtake N.C. State once again. The two traded points down the stretch, though the Pack came out victorious.
N.C. State shot 39.5% from the field overall, hitting 29.4% from 3, and made 17 of 36 layups.
Four players finished in double figures, with Brooks and Khamil Pierre recording their first double-doubles of the season. Brooks contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Pierre notched 21 points sand 14 rebounds. Jones scored nine of the Wolfpack’s final 11 points.
Qadence Samuels struggled in her first official game for N.C. State. The Connecticut transfer didn’t shoot the ball well in the team’s exhibition win over Maryland, but she was active off the glass and pulled down 11 rebounds. On Tuesday, Samuels went 1-8 from the floor and only contributed three rebounds, but she hit a 3 with 6:45 remaining in the game to regain a four-point lead.
Here’s what we learned from the Wolfpack’s season opener in Greensboro.
Tennessee pressure proves difficult
The Volunteers are known for their full court-press defense and Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore knew it was going to be a challenge.
“The concerning part coming up about the Tennessee game is they’re going to press you from the time you step off the bus until the horn goes off and full court,” Moore said last week. “They’re flying around. They’re long, they’re athletic. It’s going to be a real test.”
Tennessee’s defense was as advertised. It disrupted the Wolfpack offense for the first half of play, showing up in its ball handling and contested shots.
N.C. State only committed one turnover in the opening quarter, but it was lucky to finish with only one. Brooks and Jones nearly lost their handle on the ball multiple times, but they recovered possession or were called for a jump ball.
In the second quarter, Tennessee’s Talaysia Cooper stripped Brooks of the ball and scored a layup on the fast break. Maddie Cox was unable to maintain possession as she attempted to pull down a rebound.
Additionally, Tennessee forced N.C. State to miss eight shots at the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second quarter. The Wolfpack went 0-5 from the field and 0-2 from 3 to open the second period, while the Vols went on an 8-0 run.
N.C. State committed six turnovers in the opening half, with three coming from Tennessee steals.
The Wolfpack played better against the Vols defense in the second half, but it still made mistakes under pressure, such as an errant bounce pass from Lunan to Trygger. The Pack finished with 10 turnovers.
Khamil Pierre is that girl
“Frozen margaritas for everybody!” Moore said in July, following Pierre’s commitment. There’s a reason he celebrated with a round of golf when she notified the program, because it shored up a major hole in the N.C. State front court.
Pierre transferred from Vanderbilt where she averaged 20.4 points on 49.8% shooting, 9.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2 steals. She was the only player in the nation to record those averages. During her sophomore campaign, Pierre contributed 17 double-doubles, scored in double figures in all but one game, scored 20 points or more in 16 appearances and boasts a career-high 42 points and 18 rebounds in Vandy’s win over Evansville. Last year, she finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds against the Vols in the SEC Tournament.
She brought those numbers in the opener, in a different jersey this time, leading all players with 14 rebounds. More than the scoring and rebounding, though, Pierre was tough. She was all over defenders, wasn’t afraid to take contact and muscled her way into the lane.
The junior was inconsistent at times — Pierre made a hook shot high off the glass but missed a few easy layups — but she kept going at it. She is reminiscent of Mimi Collins, who graduated two years ago, and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She received Most Outstanding Player honors for the game.
N.C. State’s guards get most of the attention, for good reason. Pierre, however, is putting everyone on notice.
Tilda Trygger takes step forward
The sophomore forward looked bigger and tougher in the Wolfpack’s opening exhibitions. She still looked that way in what could be one of college basketball’s more physically demanding players.
Trygger looked comfortable in the system and her teammates. That comfort showed up in the first half when Brooks, under a double team in front of Tennessee’s basket, found Trygger with a crosscourt pass. Trygger laid it in for an uncontested layup.
The second-year forward also scored a wide open layup on a dribble drive and bounce pass from Samuels.
There were times when Trygger was still out-muscled for rebounds, but she’s made clear improvement. She finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, with a pair of assists, blocks and steals.
Moore said part of it can be attributed to general development and playing this summer for the Swedish national team. Trygger’s success will likely be a key figure in how far the team goes this year.
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Jadyn Watson-Fisher
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