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NC State women's basketball key observations from win vs Tennessee Lady Vols in opener
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- NC State women's basketball key observations from win vs Tennessee Lady Vols in opener
GREENSBORO – No. 9 NC State women's basketball made a season-opening statement Tuesday, Nov. 4, starting the 2025-26 schedule with a win over a top-10 team as the Wolfpack defeated No. 8 Tennessee 80-77 in the Ro Greensboro Invitational.
In a game that felt more like March than November, the Pack and Lady Vols traded haymakers all the way through this one, with NC State breaking through on a Khamil Pierre layup to take a 1-point lead with 46 seconds left.
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Tennessee used its relentless pace and pressure to take the lead with less than a minute remaining while Zam Jones scored 7 straight to keep the Wolfpack alive, and then the sophomore guard found Pierre under the basket with a long bounce pass to assist the go-ahead score.
Jones finished with 18 points, 9 coming in the fourth quarter.
Here are more observations from the Wolfpack's season-opening win over the Lady Vols.
Tilda Trygger is trouble
NC State's 6-foot-6 Swedish center tied her career high in scoring just one game into the season.
Trygger, who averaged a double-double for fourth-place Sweden in this past summer's U20 EuroBasket Championships, put up 19 points Tuesday in the sophomore's highest-scoring college game so far.
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She also showed great efficiency, shooting 8-for-13, while finishing through contact, passing to cutters, blocking 2 shots, running the floor, sinking a 3-pointer and grabbing 8 rebounds.
Impressive debuts for Wolfpack
Vanderbilt transfer Khamil Pierre was instrumental for NC State, posting a double-double in her debut and already showing good chemistry with team leader Zoe Brooks.
Pierre finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, making an immediate impact as an All-ACC Preseason Team selection.
Freshman Destiny "Ky'She" Lunan had a shaky stretch against Tennessee's pressure, but she settled down to make some huge plays in the second half, including a nice dish to Pierre and a timely 3-pointer.
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UConn transfer Qadence Samuels also hit a 3-pointer to give NC State some breathing room halfway through the fourth quarter.
Tested by Tennessee's pressure
The Lady Vols use platoon substitutions, full-court pressure and a frenetic pace to wear down opponents and that strategy was effective against the Wolfpack.
Even though they reached the bonus with more than 5 minutes left in the game, the Wolfpack looked winded down the stretch, making just 2 of their first 12 shots in the fourth quarter as Tennessee went on a 7-0 run.
That's a tough test so early in the season, but the Pack did prepare with a preseason game against a Maryland team that plays with a similar up-tempo style, on the same court.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State womens basketball vs Tennessee Lady Vols score, observations
