Wolfpack Outmaneuver Fighting Irish in Defensive Showcase at Purcell Pavilion

The North Carolina State Wolfpack, ranked 6th nationally, secured a commanding victory over the 16th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a final score of 59-43. The Wolfpack's season record now stands impressively at 22-3, while the Fighting Irish fall to a respectable but less stellar 18-7.

At Purcell Pavilion, home of the Fighting Irish, the North Carolina State team demonstrated their defensive mettle by limiting their opponents to just 43 points throughout the game. The Wolfpack started strong with an opening quarter lead of 19-7 and continued to dominate each subsequent quarter with scores of 11, 15, and finally closing out with a solid performance netting them another 14 points in the last quarter.

The Wolfpack's defense was particularly noteworthy as they amassed six blocks and four steals during the game. Their tenacity on defense translated into efficient offense as well; they capitalized on turnovers by scoring an impressive total of sixteen points off them. Furthermore, North Carolina State showcased their rebounding strength by collecting forty rebounds - thirty-three defensively and seven offensively - which played a crucial role in maintaining possession and controlling the pace of the game.

Offensively, North Carolina State shot effectively from beyond the arc with an outstanding fifty percent three-point shooting rate that resulted in seven made shots from that distance. Their overall field goal percentage stood at forty-three percent for this encounter. Despite struggling slightly from the free-throw line with only forty percent accuracy there, they managed to maintain a comfortable lead throughout.

In contrast to their rivals' robust performance, Notre Dame struggled offensively against North Carolina State's stifling defense. They were held to just twenty-seven percent shooting from field goals and seventeen percent from three-point range – starkly lower than their adversaries' numbers.

Looking ahead for fans of The Wolfpack: The next challenge will be hosting Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh on February 18th at noon Eastern Time. This upcoming conference game will be broadcasted nationally on The CW network for supporters unable to attend what promises to be another exciting matchup for North Carolina State Women's Basketball team.