No. 3 NC State is happy to be at home to start the 2024 NCAA Tournament but the Wolfpack are poised to hit road for the Sweet 16 if they can get past No. 6 Tennessee in the second round on Monday in Raleigh.
The Wolfpack will play against their former coach Kellie Harper, who now is at the helm of the Volunteers.
NC State had a dominant 64-45 victory over 14th-seeded Chattanooga in the opener. The Wolfpack extended their home winning streak in the NCAA Tournament to 17 games that started in 1985.
Aziaha James led the Wolfpack with 19 points — all in the second half. She was 5-of-10 from 3-point range, marking the second-highest for any NC State player in an NCAA Tournament game.
River Baldwin earned her seventh double-double of the year with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Tennessee advanced with a lopsided 92-63 victory over No. 11 Green Bay.
Fifth-year forward Rickea Jackson paced the Volunteers with 26 points and nine rebounds, connecting on 10 of 14 field goal attempts and all six free-throw tries.
Senior guard Jewel Spear scored 11 of her 13 points in the second quarter, while junior forward Sara Puckett (14 points) and senior guard/forward Tess Darby (11 points) also scored in double figures.
Tennessee has earned 20 or more wins in Harper’s…
