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RALEIGH

N.C. State women’s basketball has a long history of winning AP Top 10 matchups, no matter how the season is going or whether the Wolfpack is ranked.

But not on Sunday.

N.C. State fell to No. 9 Louisville, 88-80, in overtime at Reynolds Coliseum, despite leading by as many as 13 points in the second half.

While the Wolfpack has experienced ebbs and flows this season, this was one of its more disappointing games; it led by five with 43 seconds remaining in regulation.

“I think in the second half, they made an adjustment to amp up the pressure a little bit, and that threw off our rhythm when we had that run to start the half,” said assistant coach Ashley Williams. Head coach Wes Moore was unavailable due to previously-scheduled recruiting travel.

“Even at the end, I felt like we punched back both in the first half and in the second half when they made runs,” Williams said. “Unfortunately, it just ended with their punch.”

With time running out in regulation, Louisville closed to within three on an Imari Berry 3-pointer, and after a Destiny Lunan miss from beyond the arc, Zoe Brooks snagged the rebound with a chance to dribble out, or at the very least draw a late foul and shoot free throws. Instead, Brooks put the ball back up and Berry hauled in the board, giving the Cardinals a chance to tie. Berry drained a pair of free throws, and Zamaraya Jones missed a last-ditch layup attempt for the Pack, forcing OT.

There was a time when it wouldn’t have kept up with a team as physical and battle-tested as Louisville, and the Pack was in position until its late-game execution faltered.

“We’ve just got to take care of the ball better, especially toward the end, when it’s really crucial,” Brooks said, ‘”just continue to stick together and try and execute the plays that Coach Moore runs.”

Berry led Louisville with a career-high 33 points on 14-of-23 shooting and 12 rebounds.

Tajianna Roberts entered the game scoring a team-leading 12.7 points per game. She finished with four points on 1-9 shooting.

“Largely what we talked about being the keys, they did,” Williams said. “We knew that the key to this game would be rebounding, boxing out and getting defensive boards and finishing possessions. Unfortunately, I think they had some timely offensive rebounds that they were able to capitalize on.”

Feed the hot hand

N.C. State’s offense, led by Jones, got out to a hot start. Jones scored 11 first-quarter points, making 4 of 7 field goal attempts, to reach double figures for the 13th straight game. The sophomore also added a pair of 3-pointers.

Jones only took one shot in the second quarter. That changed early in the third. Jones attempted three shots, making two, in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the period.

Jones finished with 20 points, three rebounds and six assists. “Freshman year is always hard. I feel like sophomore year, this is her year,” Brooks said. “She’s been playing really well, scoring the ball, dishing the ball, defending. This is definitely a good year for her.”

Khamil Pierre scored six points (2-2 FG) in the first quarter. She went 1 for 5 in the second quarter but found the nylon again in the third.

Pierre hit the open layup with 5 1/2 minutes left to retake a one-point lead. While the two teams battled it out down the stretch, that basket seemed to turn the tide; the momentum favoring N.C. State.

Pierre finished with 26 points, six rebounds and two assists.

The Pack went cold in OT, though, going just 1 for 7, while Louisville shot 5-for-8 (62.5%).

Pack stops the 3 ball early

N.C. State’s defense has struggled at times this season, but its 3-point defense has been one of its more consistent strengths. The Wolfpack ranks in the top 50 nationally, allowing opponents to shoot 27.5% from distance.

Louisville came to Reynolds making 35% of its long-range shots, but the Pack defense was stronger on Sunday than the Cardinals’ shooting abilities.

The Cardinals started the game 0 for 7 from 3-point range, the first time this season Louisville has gone scoreless from the perimeter in the first half.

N.C. State couldn’t close the lane — Louisville beat the Wolfpack in the paint, 48-26 — but its ability to hold the Cardinals to five 3-pointers was a key factor in remaining competitive.

“We just tried to pressure the ball, make it hard for them to shoot 3s,” Brooks said. “We know that they can shoot very well, so pressuring them and making them bounce, put it on the floor was key.”

Cardinals collect offensive boards

Louisville was going to present a challenge on the glass, especially on the offensive end. The Cardinals entered the game as one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the ACC, and they proved that early.

Louisville players pulled down five offensive boards in the first quarter and continued that aggression throughout the second period. Louisville doubled up its first quarter success and went into the break with 10 offensive boards, which led to five second-chance points.

Louisville finished with 21 offensive rebounds, the most N.C. State has allowed this season. The Cardinals played with far more energy and urgency on the glass.

“We knew coming into today, Louisville was different in how they attacked the offensive glass, and that they sent all five players at times,” Williams said. “A lot of teams will send three, maybe four, but all five is a little bit different. I think they were battling in there. I think we did battle. I think, ultimately, not getting box outs every possession bit us. [We] just need all five to understand that next time and hopefully get it done.”

Louisville entered the game averaging 43.7 rebounds per game, including 14.3 boards on the offensive end. The Cardinals averaged 41.7 boards and 13.6 offensive rebounds in their first seven conference games. According to Bart Torvik, Louisville recorded an offensive board on 37% of its opportunities.

N.C. State, however, came into the matchup as one of the top defensive rebounding teams in the nation. The Pack averaged 32.5 defensive rebounds per game, ranking No. 3 in the nation and leading the ACC. Its strength on the defensive glass limited opponent opportunities, possessing a national-best opponent offensive rebounding rate of 21.6%.

Pack turnovers worrisome

N.C. State led by as many as 13 points midway through the third quarter, but late-game turnovers proved costly. N.C. State committed eight turnovers in the first half, which the Cardinals turned into eight points.

It more than doubled its turnover total in the second half, committing 19 turnovers. The Cardinals scored 24 points off the miscues.

The Wolfpack was one of the most disciplined teams in the country prior to the game, committing just 11.8 turnovers per game, ranking No. 10 in the nation and leading the ACC. Of the Wolfpack’s total possessions this season, only 16.8% of them ended in a turnover, according to Bart Torvik.

Louisville was bound to press and make things difficult. It forced an average of 17.5 opponent turnovers in its previous contests.

“N.C. State does an unbelievable job,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “Wes, throughout the years, he’s a phenomenal coach. His kids take care of the basketball. For us to turn them over 19 times was not characteristic of what they do. Then, we did do a great job of scoring in transition, which was something that we had talked about before the game started.”

This story was originally published January 18, 2026 at 3:52 PM.