RALEIGH — Saniya Rivers scored 22 points as No. 5 NC State topped Vanderbilt 70-62 on Wednesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Rivers shot 8-of-14 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds as the Wolfpack (8-0) remained unbeaten while handing the Commodores (7-1) their first defeat. River Baldwin added 12 points and 10 rebounds for NC State, Aziaha James chipped in 14 points, and Zoe Brooks had 10 points, four assists and four steals.
“I felt like I came out and contributed with scoring. I feel like we needed it tonight,” Rivers said. “It doesn’t matter if I score or not. I could care less as long as I contribute somehow, but it felt good to get my rhythm back.”
Jordyn Cambridge powered Vanderbilt with 15 points and five steals, while Sacha Washington added 14 points and seven boards.
The Commodores kept things close in the first half and led by a point after Cambridge swished her third 3-pointer of the night with 7:42 remaining in the second quarter. But the Wolfpack then broke off an 11-0 run, punctuated by a 3-pointer from Rivers, to take a 10-point advantage.
NC State put more cushion between itself and Vanderbilt by outscoring the Commodores 19-10 in the third quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Brooks and James, and two free throws from Brooks, to start the fourth frame put the Wolfpack ahead by 26 points. Vanderbilt trimmed the deficit to eight points with about one minute to play, but never got any closer.
“When we get on the plane, I know that we’ve learned a lot about ourselves,” Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph said. “So, when we go to SEC play, we need to see that fourth quarter team for the whole game. It’s got to be consistent. That team I saw in the fourth quarter can pretty much compete with anybody.”
NC State won the rebounding battle 50-35 and shot 18-of-30 from the free throw line.
Defense has been the Wolfpack’s signature this season. Entering the game, opponents were making just 30.8% of their shots against NC State, which ranked fourth-best in the country. Against Vanderbilt, the Wolfpack remained stout on the defensive end, holding the Commodores to a season-low in points and a season-worst shooting percentage of 34.3%.
In the history of the women’s basketball AP Top 25 Poll, NC State is the first team to begin a season unranked and then reach the top five before the end of November, according to the website “Across the Timeline.” The Wolfpack should remain at the top of the poll as long as they keep winning like this.
“We have to keep proving why we earned that spot,” Rivers said.
Illinois State visits the Wolfpack on Sunday.
