Key Highlights
- Sunday's win evens their series at 9-9 overall. UNC MEN'S BASKETBALL: UNC basketball's eye-popping loss at Cal can be summed up with one wordDEAN DOME MEMORIES: UNC basketball memories of first game at Smith Center might surprise some Tar HeelsAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cardinals held a 21-9 advantage in offensive rebounds and scored 24 points off 19 turnovers while beating NC State in the paint 48-26 — all of the Wolfpack's points in the paint coming from Khamil Pierre, who matched her season high. Hot start cools off in second quarterNC State shot 54% from the field in the first quarter, going over 50% for the third time in four games to continue a hot-starting trend.
- Zam Jones sank 4 of 7 shots — 2 of 3 from 3-point range — for 11 points to pave the way for a 23-14 lead, matching the Pack's third-highest first-quarter scoring output of the season. State led by as many as 11 in the second quarter, firing up the sold-out crowd with back-to-back 3-pointers from Maddie Cox and Qadence Samuels.
- But Louisville answered with an 8-0 run while Brooks sat with two fouls to trail by 5 heading into halftime, 33-28. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cardinals had trailed at halftime only thrice this season prior to Jan.
- 18 — losses to UConn and South Carolina, and a win over Miami. Comeback after comebackLouisville closed the third quarter with another 8-0 run, this one capped by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Imari Berry to get the Cards within 50-47 — her second straight triple ending Louisville's 0-for-11 drought from deep.
- The run reached into the fourth and Louisville took its first lead on a Skylar Jones layup with 9:06 remaining. That lead ballooned to 6 after a 7-0 run with 4:27 left before Brooks steadied the Pack with a 6-0 run of her own, including a crowd-hyping, highlight-reel reverse layup after a shifty behind-the-back move coming off a steal to tie it up at 64. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBrooks finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, but it was her putback attempt off an offensive rebound with a 2-point lead and 11 seconds remaining that will haunt her.
