Andy Hancock

Women's Basketball

Wolfpack Slips Past Yellow Jackets, Earns Rematch Versus North Carolina

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP)  — Aziaha James hit two free throws with 7.1 seconds left to help No. 7 NC State beat Georgia Tech 73-72 in Friday's quarterfinals of the 2025 Ally Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament.
 
James scored 16 points for the top-seeded Wolfpack (25-5), who had a tough grind to advance to Saturday's semifinals. NC State trailed by nine in the first quarter and neither team led by more than four in the fourth quarter.
 
But this one ended unceremoniously for the ninth-seeded Yellow Jackets (22-10), who failed to get a shot off before the horn on the final possession.
 
The Wolfpack advanced to the semifinals on to play No. 14 North Carolina, which beat No. 22 Florida State earlier on Friday, March 7. The Yellow Jackets await their NCAA Tournament destination.
 
NC State will seek to avenge a 66-65 loss to the Tar Heels on February 16 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, marking one of only two conference losses for the Wolfpack, which has since reeled off five consecutive wins. Saturday’s game will tip off shortly after noon ET and will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
 
Tonie Morgan and Kara Dunn each scored 21 points for Georgia Tech.
 
The Wolfpack ran down No. 6 Notre Dame in the final week to share the regular-season title and take the top seed in Greensboro by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker with a double-overtime win. The first game of the ACC Tournament was an adventure, but Wes Moore's club advanced.
 
After James’ shots and with Georgia Tech having no timeouts, Morgan pushed the ball up the court and gave it to Dani Carnegie on the left wing as time wound down. But Carnegie didn't shoot and instead tried to dribble to her right near the 3-point arc as time expired, igniting a Wolfpack celebration in front of a home-state crowd.
 
NC State made 8-of-14 shots (.571) in the period, while James' winning free throws came on her only trip to the line.
 
Of note
  • With Friday’s outcome, Moore secured his seventh 25-win season at NC State and the 17th of his 36-year coaching career. The Wolfpack is seeking ts eighth ACC Tournament title all time and its fourth under Moore’s watch.
  • NC State is 28-16 in ACC Tournament quarterfinal games.
  • The Wolfpack is now 54-25 all-time versus Georgia Tech, including a 6-2 mark in the ACC Tournament.
  • With Chit-Chat Wright and Carnegie each adding 12 points for the Yellow Jackets, Georgia Tech placed four players in double figures for the 18th time this season.