BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge propelled the North Carolina State women’s basketball team to a decisive 82-62 victory over Virginia Tech in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup Sunday at Cassell Coliseum.

The game, played before a crowd of 4,454, was a tale of two halves, with the Wolfpack seizing control before the break and never relinquishing it. The teams battled to a 19-19 stalemate in the opening period, but the second quarter proved catastrophic for the Hokies. North Carolina State’s defense clamped down, holding Virginia Tech to just eight points while its own offense exploded for 25, turning a tie game into a 44-27 halftime lead.

The Wolfpack’s interior presence was overwhelming, scoring 44 points in the paint and outrebounding the Hokies. The most important part of the game was unquestionably that second-quarter swing, where North Carolina State’s defensive intensity created offensive opportunities and completely shifted the momentum. Virginia Tech never recovered, unable to cut the deficit to single digits in the second half despite matching the Wolfpack’s output for much of the third and fourth quarters.

North Carolina State was led by the stellar backcourt duo of Zoe Brooks and Khamil Pierre. Brooks, a 5-foot-10 guard from Plainfield, New Jersey, filled the stat sheet with 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals in 36 minutes. Pierre, a 6-2 forward from Phoenix, Arizona, was a force inside, recording a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Zamareya Jones added 16 points and four assists for the Wolfpack.

Virginia Tech was paced by Carleigh Wenzel, who scored 22 points, and Kilah Freelon, who posted a formidable double-double of 14 points and 18 rebounds. Carys Baker contributed eight points and nine rebounds for the Hokies.

The win improved North Carolina State’s record to 17-7 overall. The Wolfpack, who were installed as 4.5-point favorites pregame, covered the spread, and the total score of 144 surpassed the over/under line of 139.5. Virginia Tech fell to 18-7 with the loss.

North Carolina State’s victory was built on efficiency and capitalizing on mistakes. The Wolfpack scored 16 points off Virginia Tech turnovers and consistently found high-percentage shots near the basket. The Hokies, meanwhile, struggled to find an offensive rhythm outside of Wenzel and were plagued by 18 turnovers.

The Wolfpack’s recent results show a team finding its stride in conference play, having won three of its last four games. Virginia Tech, which had won four of its last five entering the contest, saw its momentum halted by North Carolina State’s defensive prowess and balanced scoring attack.

Looking ahead, North Carolina State travels to face Notre Dame next Sunday. Virginia Tech begins a challenging West Coast road trip at Stanford on Thursday.

The game’s outcome aligned with the Interstat ELO system projection, which gave North Carolina State a 64.4% probability to win. The Wolfpack’s performance, particularly in the decisive second quarter, validated that favoritism and demonstrated their capability as a contender in the ACC.