River Baldwin has 16 points, 11 rebounds as No. 3 NC State beats South Florida 66-54
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James (10) drives the lane against South Florida guard Aerial Wilson (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Jason Behnken
TAMPA, Fla. — River Baldwin had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Aziaha James added 16 points, and No. 3 NC State beat South Florida 66-54 on Saturday night.
Madison Hayes and Zoe Brooks scored 12 points apiece for the Wolfpack (11-0). Brooks, coming off a triple-double, had seven rebounds and two assists.
“I think the biggest thing coming into this season was, no one knew how good we could be but us,” Baldwin said. “So, we had a chip on our shoulder.”
South Florida (7-4) got 11 points from Romi Levy, and Carla Brito chipped in 10.
Baldwin scored the game's first seven points and had 13 in the first half as NC State took a 40-28 lead. Brooks had a tiebreaking basket and hit a 3-pointer to start a 16-2 run that made it 38-24.
Brooks became the second player in team history to have a triple-double in an 80-67 win over Liberty last Sunday in her first start. The freshman guard is filling in for standout Saniya Rivers, who missed her second consecutive game with an ailment.
“We're short-handed with Saniya Rivers out,” North Carolina State coach Wes Moore said. “Makes our bench really thin. With River Baldwin playing the way she did, we kind of road her a little bit. We're going to need some of those other players, obviously, as we go through the season.”
South Florida forward Evelien Lutje Schipholt (24) defends against North Carolina State forward Mimi Collins (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Jason Behnken
Aerial Wilson's layup got the Bulls within 65-54 with 1:25 to play.
NC State outscored South Florida 42-10 in the paint.
“River Baldwin, that's what she does,” James said.
BIG PICTURE
South Florida forward Evelien Lutje Schipholt (24) defends against North Carolina State forward Mimi Collins (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Jason Behnken
NC State: The Wolfpack are 11-0 for the fourth time in 11 years under Moore.
South Florida: The Bulls will have to overcome the loss of guard Sammie Puisis to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season. The senior, who averaged 15.5 points and 4.1 rebounds last season, had a left knee ACL injury at practice Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season.
LOOKING FOR HELP
USF shot just 35% (21 of 60) from the floor.
Puisis had 21 points on 8-of-19 shooting (42%) in her season debut last Sunday in an 105-75 win over Gardner-Webb. She had been sidelined by a lower extremity injury.
Vittoria Blasigh, who entered averaging 15 points, finished with seven points after making three of 13 shots.
“With Sammie not out there on the floor, we've got to give Vitty help,” USF coach Jose Fernandez said.
UP NEXT
NC State: Completes the nonconference part of the schedule Wednesday night at Old Dominion.
South Florida: Closes out nonconference play at the West Palm Classic on Wednesday against IUPUI and No. 10 Baylor on Thursday.
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