#2 Seed NC State Defeats #15 Seed Vermont 75-55 in Convincing Victory

#2 Seed NC State (27-6) won a decisive 75-55 victory at home against #15 seed Vermont (21-13) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament this afternoon. If you bet the spread on the Pack, you missed out on your money by one point. NC State was a 20.5-point favorite. If you bet the Over, you cashed in, with the two teams surpassing the 124.5 total, combining to score 130 points.

It wasn’t the Wolfpack’s best shooting performance, making only 39.1 percent from the field and 20 percent from three. Fortunately, due to excellent defense, NC State held the Catamounts to 37.3 percent shooting from the field. However, the Wolfpack didn’t defend the three-point line well today, allowing Vermont to shoot 42.1 percent from beyond the arc, making eight.

NC State outrebounded the Catamounts 45-34, snagging nine more offensive boards. The Wolfpack was disciplined on the offensive end, turning the ball over only four times, but forced Vermont to commit 13 turnovers. NC State was +13 in second-chance points and +7 in points off turnovers.

The Wolfpack shot better, crashed the offensive glass, and capitalized on Vermont’s mistakes. The icing on the cake was NC State making 18 more free throws.

First Team All-ACC sophomore guard Zoe Brooks led the way with 19 points, making 8 of 16 from the field.

First Team All-ACC senior guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers both chipped in 15 points each, with the latter recording a double-double, pulling down 12 boards.

Senior guard Madison Hayes was one point away from a double-double, with nine points and 12 rebounds.

NC State will play the winner of #7 seed Michigan State and #10 seed Harvard on Monday in the 2nd Round.