FINAL BOX

Raleigh, N. C. --- The Tennessee State women's basketball team dropped its season opener to ACC opponent NC State, 84-55, Friday night in Reynolds Coliseum.

Tennessee State (0-1) was led in scoring by junior Brianna Lawrence's 14 points while Chelsea Hudson just missed double digits with nine points.

Dominique Wilson led the Wolfpack (1-0) with 20 points while Miah Spencer (14), Jennifer Mathurin (13) and Ashley Williams (10) also reached double-figures.

TSU scored the first five points of the game but NC State used a 10-0 run to take the lead and held a 10-7 advantage at the first media timeout. Out of the break Rachel Allen knocked down her second three-pointer of the game to pull TSU within five, 15-10, but NCSU posted eight unanswered to move ahead, 23-10.

Empty possessions and turnovers led to the Lady Tigers falling behind 41-17, at the 4:24 mark of the opening frame.

TSU used a 6-0 spurt to cut into the deficit with two minutes on the clock but NC State went into the halftime break leading, 44-26.

The Lady Tigers had 13 first-half turnovers, in which the Wolfpack turned into 21 points.

In the second stanza, Brianna Lawrence scored TSU's 11 first points with five buckets, including one three pointer. During the contest, the Lady Tigers managed to cut the deficit down to 16 points but that would be as close as they would get.  

Tennessee State went 19-of-58 (32.8 %) from the field, including 4-of-17 (23.5 %) from three-point range. TSU also struggled from the free-throw line, only connecting on 13-of-25 attempts.

NC State outscored TSU 34-18 in the paint and 44-15 in bench points.  The Wolfpack also scored 31 points off TSU turnovers.

Tennessee State returns to action on Monday, Nov. 17 at home against Kennesaw State. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

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