The Wolfpack came out with eight minutes of inspired basketball to take an early double digit lead before UNC responded in kind over the next 32 minutes on the way to an 80-68 win.
NC State got the start it hoped for with Cat Barber laying waste to both Joel Berry and Nate Britt's attempts to defend him. The Wolfpack guard scored 16 of NC State's first 23 points pacing NCSU to an early 23-10 lead. UNC matched baskets early with a 4-4 start but fell into a rough stretch hitting just 2-12 permitting while the Wolfpack seemingly could not miss.