NC State women's basketball thumps Chattanooga in March Madness, advances to Round 2

RALEIGH — NC State women's basketball delivered in its March Madness opener at home in Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday, thumping Chattanooga 64-45 in the Portland 4 Region first-round NCAA Tournament game.

The No. 3-seeded Wolfpack (28-6) held the No. 14 Mocs (28-5) to single digits in three of four quarters while All-American guard Saniya Rivers poured in 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

NC State moves on to face No. 6 Tennessee on Monday in Round 2 (time TBA). The Lady Vols beat No. 11 Green Bay 92-63 on Saturday in Reynolds.

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Madison Hayes' big day for NC State women's basketball

A Chattanooga, Tennessee, native, McDonald's All-American and two-time Class AAA Miss Tennessee Basketball winner at East Hamilton High, NC State’s Madison Hayes had a big day against her hometown team.

Already a strong rebounding guard, Hayes had five boards in the first half to go with five points, she was getting others involved — like her pass to an open Maddie Cox for a big triple — and she pestered the Mocs on defense: — like her dive to the floor for a loose ball that helped the Pack get a five-second call and a turnover.

"I think it's really exciting playing against my hometown," Hayes said in practice prior to Saturday's game. "I usually always used to go to the UTC games, men or women. So it's always cool to see that they're good enough to come here and play in the NCAA this year."

Hayes, who played against Mocs star Jada Guinn in high school, finished with nine rebounds, four assists and five points.

Wes Moore's ties to Chattanooga

NC State coach Wes Moore spent 15 seasons coaching at Chattanooga. He still holds the most career wins of any coach in Mocs history (358-113), leading the squad to nine NCAA Tournament berths in his time there (1998-2013).

Playing big

The Wolfpack's size advantage was obvious, and they used it early on with a 24-17 rebounding edge and three blocked shots in the first half. It seemed like more.

River Baldwin and Mimi Collins had their way in the paint, where the Pack outscored the Mocs 22-8. Baldwin had seven rebounds in the first half alone and she finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards.