#1 Seed NC State Beats #9 Seed Georgia Tech 73-72 in the Final Seconds of the Quarterfinals of the ACCT

No. 1 seed NC State found a way to win 73-72 against No. 9 seed Georgia Tech in the Quarterfinals of the 2025 ACC Tournament, in a game in which the Yellow Jackets controlled the majority of the action. The Yellow Jackets led for 24:45, while the Wolfpack held the lead for just 7:28.

Nonetheless, with 1:00 left in the fourth quarter, NC State held a one-point lead. The final minute turned into a back-and-forth battle. With 46 seconds left, Georgia Tech’s Chazadi Wright made a pull-up jumper to put the Yellow Jackets ahead. Five seconds later, NC State All-ACC guard Aziaha James responded with a jumper to give the Wolfpack the lead once again.

Things got chaotic when Wolfpack freshman guard Zam Jones stole the ball but dribbled herself into a corner. Despite having plenty of timeouts available, Jones attempted to force a pass out of the trap, resulting in a turnover. Fourteen seconds later, she made another costly mistake, fouling Dani Carnegie as she attempted a shot in the lane. Carnegie sank both free throws, putting Georgia Tech ahead by one with 15 seconds left.

With the game on the line, you put the ball in your best player’s hands—and that’s exactly what NC State head coach Wes Moore did. Aziaha James drove to her left and was fouled on the shot, nearly converting an acrobatic and-one opportunity. With ice in her veins, James calmly knocked down both free throws, giving the Wolfpack a one-point lead with seven seconds remaining.

In close games like this, the outcome often depends on who has the ball for the final possession—but All-ACC guard Saniya Rivers made sure that didn’t happen. The Yellow Jackets put the ball in the hands of their top scorer, Tonie Morgan, who finished the game with 21 points. However, Rivers locked her down defensively, forcing Georgia Tech to fumble the final play, failing to get a shot off before time expired.

NC State avoided being on the wrong side of history, edging Georgia Tech 73-72. A No. 9 seed has only defeated a No. 1 seed once in ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament history.

Game Leaders:

• Aziaha James led the Pack with 16 points (7-17 FG).
• Sophomore Zoe Brooks had 14 points, leading NC State in both rebounds (9) and assists (4).
• Zam Jones came off the bench and made a huge impact, scoring 13 points (7-14 FG) in 18 minutes.
• Senior guards Saniya Rivers and Madison Hayes each finished with nine points.

The Wolfpack will face archrival No. 5 seed UNC tomorrow at noon on ESPN2. The Tar Heels defeated No. 4 seed FSU 60-56 this morning.