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Tennessee Lady Vols basketball vs. NC State score, highlights: Aziaha James, Wolfpack win 2024 March Madness game

Cora Hall and Nick Gray, Knoxville News Sentinel
·6 min read

RALEIGH, N.C. – Lady Vols basketball is fighting for a spot in the Sweet 16 now.

No. 6 seed Tennessee (20-12) faces No. 3 seed and host NC State (28-6) on Monday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN) in the NCAA Tournament second round at Reynolds Coliseum. The Lady Vols crushed No. 11 seed Green Bay 92-63 on Saturday, while the Wolfpack recorded a 64-45 blowout win over Chattanooga.

Tennessee coach Kellie Harper has multiple ties to NC State. She coached the Wolfpack from 2009-13, and she was an assistant on NC State coach Wes Moore's staff at Chattanooga from 2001-04.

The Lady Vols would advance to their third straight NCAA Sweet 16 with a win.

Lady Vols basketball vs NC State live score, updates: 2024 NCAA Tournament

FINAL: Lady Vols season ends with 79-72 loss to NC State in NCAA Tournament second round

The Lady Vols still had a hard time getting offense from players other than Rickea Jackson late in the game. Jasmine Powell had a turnover and a missed layup on back-to-back possessions, sandwiching a River Baldwin 3-point play for NC State.

Jewel Spear hit a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left to cut NC State's lead to 4, but the Wolfpack hit most of their free throws down the stretch. Tess Darby's 3-point attempt with 25 seconds left, with the Lady Vols down 5, was blocked, putting the game away for the Wolfpack.

Jackson finishes with 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting but had just one shot in the final minutes while the game was in doubt.

NC State moves onto the Sweet 16.

NC State 70, Lady Vols 65 with 2:07 left

NC State's Aziaha James scores five straight points out of the final media timeout, sandwiching a Rickea Jackson blocked layup. Tamari Key scores again to cut the NC State lead back down to five, Timeout NC State. Nothing but stops required now for the Lady Vols defensively.

NC State 65, Lady Vols 63 with 3:44 left | Tennessee needs one final run

Rickea Jackson is trying to will the Lady Vols to the finish line offensively, now up to 31 points including nine in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter and most coming against solid defense.

Tamari Key banked in a short baby hook to cut the NC State lead to two points. Tennessee is on a 7-0 run. A good finish coming up. Can the Lady Vols do this?

End of the third quarter: NC State 58, Tennessee 50

The Lady Vols finish the third quarter well, on a 10-2 run to cut NC State's lead to 8. Tennessee limited the turnovers and fast break opportunities in the quarter. Rickea Jackson is up to 22 points. Jasmine Powell has 11 points and went 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the third quarter.

Tennessee needed to cut into the deficit enough to have a chance in the fourth quarter, and it did that. Do they have enough offense to come all the way back?

HALFTIME: NC State 49, Tennessee 31

A destructive final five minutes of the half for the Lady Vols. NC State finishes on a 16-2 run and wins the second quarter 25-8. NC State's Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers have 12 points apiece, with Zoe Brooks adding 11.

The Lady Vols have not had an answer for NC State's defense. Rickea Jackson had two points in the second quarter after 14 in the first. She still has more than half of Tennessee's first half points.

NC State had 20 fast-break points, and Tennessee has not had an answer for State's transition offense.

NC State 37, Tennessee 29 with 5:20 left in second quarter | NC State's pace causing trouble

NC State is on a prolonged 20-6 run with 17 fast break points so far in the first half. Kellie Harper was not happy during one Wolfpack possession when an NC State player appeared to get away with a double-dribble. The Vols bench erupted for several seconds after it, and NC State ended the possession with a made floater.

Rickea Jackson has just two points in the second quarter. No other Vol has more than three points. Jewel Spear has two fouls and has been on the bench. NC State is shooting 60% in the half. All of those things are concerns for the Vols.

End of the first quarter: NC State 24, Tennessee 23

NC State ends the quarter on a 7-0 run and leads 12-4 in points in the paint and 10-3 in fast break points. The pace is quick.

Rickea Jackson has 14 points in a big-time first quarter performance.

Lady Vols 17, NC State 14 with 4:51 left in the first quarter | Rickea Jackson is locked in

Rickea Jackson opens with 12 points in the first five minutes of the game, including 2-of-2 from 3. The Lady Vols lead 17-14 in a quick shooting start for both teams.

The game is on ESPN now, with Notre Dame's win over Ole Miss complete.

Lady Vols-NC State will begin on ESPNU

Notre Dame is taking care of Ole Miss to move onto the Sweet 16 in the day's first game, but the game is running long. UT-NC State will start on ESPNU.

Lady Vols-NC State starting lineups

Tennessee: G Jewel Spear, G Jasmine Powell, F Rickea Jackson, F Sara Puckett, C Tamari Key

NC State: G Aziaha Jones, G Madison Hayes, G Saniya Rivers, F Mimi Collins, C River Baldwin

What channel is Tennessee Lady Vols vs. NC State on today? How to watch, stream live

Tennessee vs. NC State will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app and FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Tennessee Lady Vols basketball vs. NC State in March Madness start time

  • Date: Monday, March 25

  • Start time: 4 p.m. ET

The Lady Vols-NC State game is scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. ET Monday at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols basketball vs NC State live score, updates: 2024 NCAA Tournament