What we learned as No. 10 NC State women’s basketball falls at home to No. 19 TCU

RALEIGH

N.C. State women’s basketball’s fortitude and toughness were tested Sunday in an early-season contest against fellow ranked foe TCU.

The Wolfpack didn’t pass.

After keeping it close in the first half, No. 10 N.C. State trailed by as many as 14 points in the second on its way to a 69-59 loss to No. 19 TCU at Reynolds Coliseum.

Nothing seemed to go right for the Pack. Its offense struggled once again, and its defense couldn’t keep opposing players away from the rim. In prior seasons, there was always a measure of toughness and grit to the Wolfpack when it faced adversity. But at times Sunday, N.C. State players dropped their shoulders and heads. The players got sad, not mad, in their second loss to a ranked team in four games this season.

One big difference for N.C. State on Sunday was missing production from a pair of reliable sources. Khamil Pierre and Zoe Brooks averaged a double-double through three games, ranking Nos. 1 and No. 2 in the ACC. Pierre’s double-doubles in the three opening contests put her at No. 2 in the country.

Pierre finished with eight points and five rebounds, while Brooks had six points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Zamareya Jones was a nonfactor in the loss, shooting 0 for 9 from the field and pulling down one rebound.

TCU center Marta Suarez tore up the N.C. State defense. She finished with 26 points, three rebounds, two blocks and one steal. She shot 10 of 18 from the field and 4 of 8 from 3.

Here are three more things we learned Sunday:

Slow start for the third straight game

In four games this season, the Wolfpack offense hasn’t started well in three. Sunday was no different. N.C. State opened the game 0 for 3 from the field, and were 2 for 16 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Jones, Brooks and Pierre — the team’s three leading scorers — opened the game 1 for 13 from the field and 0 for 4 from the perimeter. As a team, it went through a stretch where it missed nine straight shots.

N.C. State scored just nine first-quarter points in its most recent game against Maine. With a minute and a half remaining in the opening period on Sunday, it looked like that might be the case again. The Wolfpack had some good looks, but they weren’t falling. A number of its best shot attempts rimmed out to the dismay of N.C. State players, coaches and fans.

The team used an 8-0 run to end the quarter and cut TCU’s lead to two points.

Keeping up with the size and physicality

N.C. State struggled against TCU’s size. Trygger, listed at 6-6, is the tallest Wolfpack player. Only six players are listed at six feet or taller. Though Trygger added muscle in the offseason, she doesn’t have the same bulk as some opposing players.

Meanwhile, TCU’s roster features 11 players who are at least six feet tall and four who are taller than Trygger. At halftime, the Wolfpack out-rebounded the Horned Frogs, 23-21, but it finished with a 15-11 deficit on defensive rebounds.

Horned Frogs center Clara Silva, listed at 6-7, beat out Pierre and Trygger in the lane on offense and defense.

Additionally, the officials limited the number of foul calls in the first half. There were instances of contact, on and off the ball, that were not called. Jerseys and arms were pulled.

Devyn Quigley hit a fadeaway jumper but wasn’t awarded a free throw despite getting wrapped up by a defender. Similarly, Pierre missed a field goal after being the recipient of a TCU hip check. She did not go to the line.

Marta Suarez and Silva were two of the more physical matchups. They did not pick up their first fouls until the fourth quarter.

N.C. State finished 8-24 on layups, some of which were probably due for a trip to the line.

Whether it was the right decision to allow the teams to play through can be debated, but the Pack also didn’t exert the same aggression as TCU.

Cox provides strong contribution off the bench

Forward Maddie Cox was due for a good game. In her third season, Cox has regularly come off the bench but doesn’t have many notable performances on her resume.

She deserves credit, despite the loss, for entering the game and providing a spark on offense and defense. Her efforts were especially evident in the first half.

Cox’s defensive pressure forced Suarez to commit a turnover after losing possession of the ball. She played strong defense on one of Kennedy Basham’s layup attempts, leading to a missed basket.

On the other side, Cox hit a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game at 20 each. She finished with five points and two rebounds but was disruptive in ways that don’t show up statistically.

Cox, who has come in several times this season for defensive help, may be an X-factor for the Wolfpack as the season progresses.