No. 9 N.C. State Edges No. 8 Tennessee 80-77 on Pierre’s Go-Ahead Layup

The Lady Vols played their opener two days after dismissing starter Ruby Whitehorn.

Overview

Khamil Pierre delivered 21 points and 14 rebounds in her N.C. State debut after transferring from Vanderbilt.
Zamareya Jones sealed the result with two free throws with 1.9 seconds left and totaled 18 points, nine in the fourth quarter.
Tilda Trygger added 19 points and eight rebounds, including a late offensive board that helped N.C. State drain clock.
Tennessee’s Talaysia Cooper posted 23 points and 11 rebounds, but the final possession unraveled into a long, unsuccessful heave by freshman Mia Pauldo after an inbounds struggle.
The neutral-site top-10 opener was played in Greensboro, with N.C. State now set to face No. 18 USC in Charlotte on Sunday and Tennessee hosting East Tennessee State on Friday.