No. 1 South Carolina takes down No. 9 NC State, 71-57
🏆 South Carolina takes down NC State, wins 71-57
As the Wolfpack attempted a fourth-quarter comeback, South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao put the potential upset to rest with five straight points, capped off by a corner three, to help the Gamecocks win 71-57.
South Carolina's first-ranked win of the season extended their win streak to 40. They are the second DI program to assemble multiple 40-game win streaks. Paopao and MiLaysia Fulwiley led the way with 23 and 18 points, respectively, with the team shooting 50% from the field.
The Gamecocks kept the Wolfpack at arm's length from the second quarter until the final buzzer. However, NC State made things interesting in the fourth, cutting to a seven-point game with less than five minutes to go. That was as close as the Gamecocks would let the score get, bumping it back up to double digits by the game's end.
South Carolina returns to the hardwood on Nov. 14 to face Coppin State for its home-opener, while the Wolfpack face Kent State at home next on Nov. 14.
👀 Wolfpack cut it to 10-point game
NC State is beginning to find its rhythm, cutting South Carolina's lead down to 10.
The Wolfpack turned good defense into great offense behind Saniya Rivers' block on Sania Feagin leading to Zamareya Jones' trailing three. The Gamecocks called a timeout as a result.
SCAR leads 60-50 with seven minutes left.
🐓 Fulwiley and-one, SCAR up 16
With Raven Johnson finding MiLaysia Fulwiley for a transition and-one bucket, the Gamecocks are breaking away from the Wolfpack. With less than five minutes left in the third quarter, South Carolina leads 52-36 entering the media timeout — its biggest lead of the game.
NC State has struggled to find the bottom of the basket throughout the quarter. They haven't made a field goal in nearly the last four minutes.
📈 Stats at the half
South Carolina
NC State
🍿 South Carolina up 39-30 at halftime
Let cook🤯
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB)
Halftime – SC 39, NCSU 30
📺 ESPN
🤩 Tough bucket from Te-Hina Paopao
With fall away ... 😬
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB)
ESPN
😤 NC State on a comeback in the 2Q
11-0 run 😤
— NC State WBB 🐺🏀 (@PackWomensBball)
Pack lead 25-23 with 4:55 left in the 2nd
Q1️⃣ belongs to South Carolina
1st quarter in the books!
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB)
SC 17-14
📺
🔥 It's getting HOT already in the 1Q
It's tight early – tied at 10! with 6 pts early
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB)
5️⃣ starters for the Gamecocks
🤭 GAME DAY: South Carolina vs. NC State
It's almost time for the top 10 showdown between No. 1 South Carolina and No. 9 NC State in a rematch of last year's final four.
REMATCH today.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB)
No. 9 🆚 No. 1 on .
Here's how to keep track of the action:
- ⏰ Time: 3 p.m. ET
- 📺 TV: ESPN
- 📍Location: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina
- 📊 Follow: Live scores and stats
We'll be live-updating this page throughout the game.
✍️ Game preview
Top-ranked South Carolina will take on No. 9 NC State in Charlotte in one of the season's first big tests in women’s college basketball. The Gamecocks enter the matchup off a dominant 2023-24 campaign with an undefeated season and national championship. Head coach Dawn Staley guides a mix of experience and new talent in this new season. Veteran leaders like Raven Johnson and Te-Hina Paopao are expected to impact both ends of the game.
NC State, led by head coach Wes Moore, finished 31-7 last season and reached the Final Four, falling to these Gamecocks. The Wolfpack return with key players such as senior guard Aziaha James, a consistent scorer and defender, who is expected to take on an expanded role this season.
The Gamecocks are known for their fast-paced offense and strong defense, holding opponents to low shooting percentages. NC State ranked in the top 10 for a reason and brings a balanced attack and a solid defensive unit that could challenge South Carolina’s scoring depth. This early showdown provides both teams with a valuable test and could implicate the national rankings going forward.
📊 Latest AP rankings
In the first Associated Press Top 25 poll of the season, South Carolina opened No. 1 ranking, a position it has held consistently in recent years. Under coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks are coming off an undefeated national championship season. NC State enters the matchup ranked No. 9.
Last season, the Gamecocks topped the Wolfpack 78-59 in the Final Four.
Here's the complete AP Top 25 rankings:
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina (27) | 0-0 | 745 | 1 |
| 2 | UConn (2) | 0-0 | 708 | 3 |
| 3 | Southern California (1) | 0-0 | 697 | 5 |
| 4 | Texas | 0-0 | 641 | 7 |
| 5 | UCLA | 0-0 | 628 | 10 |
| 6 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 614 | 11 |
| 7 | LSU | 0-0 | 549 | 6 |
| 8 | Iowa State | 0-0 | 521 | 25 |
| 9 | NC State | 0-0 | 510 | 4 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | 441 | 21 |
| 11 | Duke | 0-0 | 439 | 17 |
| 12 | Baylor | 0-0 | 422 | 13 |
| 13 | Kansas State | 0-0 | 390 | 19 |
| 14 | Ohio State | 0-0 | 372 | 16 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 0-0 | 285 | NR |
| 16 | West Virginia | 0-0 | 277 | 24 |
| 17 | Louisville | 0-0 | 250 | NR |
| 18 | Maryland | 0-0 | 227 | NR |
| 19 | Florida State | 0-0 | 191 | NR |
| 20 | Ole Miss | 0-0 | 165 | NR |
| 21 | Creighton | 0-0 | 152 | 23 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 0-0 | 108 | NR |
| 23 | Nebraska | 0-0 | 106 | NR |
| 24 | Alabama | 0-0 | 67 | NR |
| 25 | Indiana | 0-0 | 46 | 12 |
📺 How to watch South Carolina vs. NC State
Get ready for a top-10 showdown as top-ranked South Carolina takes on No. 9 North Carolina in a nonconference clash.
- 🗓️ Date: Sunday, Nov. 10
- ⏰ Time: 3 p.m. ET
- 📺 TV: ESPN
- 📍Location: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina
- 📊 Follow: Live scores and stats