The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 33 A Through NC State's first 11 games, James was averaging 16.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists, all career-highs. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS BY ETHAN MCDOWELL ziaha James set the tone fo r NC S ta te 's 2 02 3 - 24 women's basketball season in the first few minutes of the season opener. The junior guard had emerged into a promi- nent role last year, with her minutes steadily increasing throughout the season. In this year's first game, a Nov. 7 matchup against visiting Charlotte, she started at shooting guard and set a program record with 19 points in the first quarter. James finished with a career-high 26 points, hitting 5 of her 8 three-point shots and grabbing 5 rebounds as well. NC State won the contest, 84-43. "It's the first game of the season," she said afterward, "and we're just coming out and setting an example." Head coach Wes Moore was quite happy with the example she set, par- ticularly the role she played in helping NC State shoot 71.4 percent from the floor in the first quarter. "Aziaha James obviously was a big part of that, coming out and knocking down shots the way she did," Moore said. "I think our players recognized what was going on and got her the ball and got her shots." Ja m e s ' sco r i n g o u tb u rs t a ga i n s t the 49ers was the start of an 11-game s t re tc h i n wh i c h s h e m a i n ta i n e d career-best averages in scoring, re- bounding and passing. NC State won all of those games after starting the season unranked, and James averaged 16.4 points, more than doubling last season's per-game scoring rate, while adding 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The star guard also hit a career-high 41.9 percent of her threes over that span. NC State was undefeated going into the last game of its nonconfer- ence schedule, and James was play- ing a crucial role in its success, hit- ting timely threes to keep opponents at arm's length. A Team Leader Whether she's catching the ball in the corner or creating her own look, the veteran guard is shooting with con- fidence after knocking down 28.8 per- cent of her threes last season. James hit multiple shots from behind the arc in eight of the team's first 11 games. "She has worked extremely hard on her outside shot and her range," Moore said. In addition to her scoring, James is also continuing to emphasize her re- bounding. Listed at 5-foot-9, she's the shortest player in NC State's starting lineup, but she put in the effort to grab 5 or more boards in six of NC State's first 11 games. One of six Wolfpack rotation play- ers averaging at least 4 rebounds per game, James sees her work on the boards as a crucial part of her game. " I f yo u wa n t to p l ay fo r Coa c h Moore, rebound and play defense. That's it," she said. James and fellow junior guard Saniya Rivers took it upon themselves to help lead this year's team, which includes fo u r f re s h m e n a n d two t ra n s fe rs. When play stops during a game, they take a brief moment to show support for each other, knowing that their ca- maraderie can make a significant dif- ference. "Just huddling up and having each other's back, motivating each other and getting the job done [is impor- tant]," James said. Both James and Rivers have stepped into larger leadership roles this season as two of the program's five return- ing players. Last year, they began as a promising guard duo off the bench before emerging into starting roles. This season, they form one of the best backcourts in the ACC, alongside se- nior guard Madison Hayes. The night before their Nov. 12 show- down with Connecticut, the No. 2 team in the nation at the time, Riv- ers and James spoke with each of the team's scholarship freshmen — guards Zoe Brooks and Laci Steele, center Mallory Collier and forward Maddie Cox. NC State's star guard duo told the newcomers that even though the matchup against the Huskies was only their second career game, they needed to be ready for a big-time college bas- ketball experience. Each of the freshmen ended up play- ing at least three minutes, and Brooks finished third on the team with 12 points. The point guard also added 4 rebounds and 3 assists to supplement a 33-point performance by Rivers and an 18-point outburst from James. "That was our main focus, just tell- ing the freshmen, 'Y'all are not fresh- men this week. It's time to wake up and get older. This is a game to prepare for,'" James said. "I feel like they got the job done, especially Zoe." James scored 12 of her points in the second half against the Huskies, hitting a pair of critical threes that contributed to a 92-81 upset win. The Wolfpack debuted in the Associated Press poll at No. 14 the following week. James had mentioned the doubters after her dra- matic season debut and quickly proved them wrong during NC State's 11-0 start to the year. By Dec. 4, the Pack had risen to No. 3 in the nation after starting out un- ranked. NC State had won nine of its first 11 matchups by double digits, and following the two closer games — a 9-point win over Rhode Island and an 8-point victory against Vanderbilt — EARLY RISER Junior Guard Aziaha James Is Off To A Torrid Start For The Surging Wolfpack