RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — The North Carolina State women’s basketball team used a dominant second quarter to build an insurmountable lead and cruised to an 87-58 victory over Georgia Tech in an Atlantic Coast Conference game Thursday night at Lenovo Center.

A crowd of 4,432 watched the Wolfpack improve to 8-4 overall, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 4-9.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the second period. After a competitive first quarter that ended with North Carolina State leading 26-20, the Wolfpack seized complete control with a 29-11 advantage in the second. The surge transformed a six-point lead into a 55-31 halftime deficit for Georgia Tech, from which it never recovered.

North Carolina State’s offensive efficiency was the story, as it shot 52.9% from the field for the game. The Wolfpack scored 87 points on 79 possessions, an offensive rating of 110.4. In contrast, Georgia Tech managed just 58 points on 77 possessions, shooting 35.4% from the floor with an offensive rating of 75.0.

Zamareya Jones, a 5-foot-7 guard from Greenville, North Carolina, led the Wolfpack with 17 points and seven assists in 27 minutes, orchestrating the offense with precision. Khamil Pierre, a 6-2 forward from Phoenix, Arizona, added 13 points and three assists. The Wolfpack’s depth was on full display, with five players scoring in double figures: Qadence Samuels had 10 points, as did Destiny Lunan, who also dished out five assists, and Zoe Brooks and Tilda Trygger each contributed 10 points. Trygger, a 6-6 center from Stockholm, Sweden, added two blocks.

Georgia Tech was led by Talayah Walker’s game-high 20 points. The 5-10 guard from Odenton, Maryland, played 34 minutes. Catherine Alben, a 5-7 guard from Snellville, Georgia, scored 18 of her team’s 24 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 18 total.

The third quarter saw North Carolina State extend its lead further, outscoring Georgia Tech 22-3. The Yellow Jackets’ three points in the period marked a season low for any quarter, stifled by the Wolfpack defense which recorded five blocks and seven steals for the game. Georgia Tech’s offense stalled completely, making just one field goal in the quarter.

Georgia Tech showed life in the final period, outscoring North Carolina State 24-10, but the outcome was long decided. The Wolfpack, who led by as many as 39 points, rested key players for much of the fourth quarter.

North Carolina State won the battle on the boards, outrebounding Georgia Tech, and committed only 11 turnovers. Georgia Tech had 12 turnovers and managed just six assists on 23 made field goals.

The victory was North Carolina State’s second in ACC play, following a road win at Miami on Sunday. Georgia Tech has now lost three consecutive games, all on the road, by an average of 23 points.

North Carolina State next plays at Davidson on Sunday. Georgia Tech returns home to face Wofford on Dec. 28.

The most important part of the game was the second-quarter surge by North Carolina State. After a back-and-forth first quarter that featured five lead changes and saw Georgia Tech’s Talayah Walker hit three 3-pointers to keep pace, the Wolfpack unleashed a devastating 29-11 run. This period showcased their superior offensive execution and defensive pressure, turning a narrow contest into a lopsided affair by halftime. The run was a comprehensive team effort, with Jones directing traffic, Pierre scoring inside, and role players like Maddie Cox and Qadence Samuels contributing key baskets. It effectively decided the game long before the second half began, as Georgia Tech could not muster a response, particularly during its three-point third quarter.