The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1519757
MAY/JUNE 2024 ■ 35 returned the program to a stage it had not reached in 26 years. Those connections are unbreakable, and Collins would not trade her final season for anything. "This experience has been heaven- sent," she said. "As a senior, I couldn't ask for more. I love these girls to death. I told them that after the game." The Wolfpack players made it clear they would not change anything about this group. Beyond a supportive coaching staff and a passionate fanbase, NC State's play- ers always had each other's backs. They call each other sisters because they have a relationship that transcends the history they achieved on the court. Graduate center River Baldwin said her two-season tenure as a Wolfpack player — she started out at Florida State — helped her fall in love with basketball again. "I wouldn't trade my two years in Ra- leigh for anything," Baldwin said. "I found a family here, a true family." Support System NC State packed Reynolds Coliseum all season, averaging 4,151 fans for its 18 home games, 17 of which it won. Even when the team ventured far from home, to places like Portland, Ore., site of its Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games, or Cleveland, which played host to this year's Final Four, Wolfpack Nation always maintained its presence in the crowd. For the semifinal matchup against the Gamecocks, a sea of red T-shirts and jer- seys crowded behind NC State's bench to cheer the team on. When some players walked up into the stands after the team's 78-59 loss to the eventual national cham- pions, fans stood and applauded. "Wolfpack Nation has followed us across the country," Baldwin said. "Their support is unmatched. Their love is un- matched. I couldn't ask for a better sup- port system." Head coach Wes Moore spoke with Baldwin before the season, breaking down her responsibilities on this year's team. The center had spent most of her career as a role player, but NC State needed to run the offense through her at times this year. Baldwin finished her final campaign with career highs in points (10.6), re- bounds (6.9) and blocks (1.2) per game. "I've loved having her," Moore said. "I'm going to miss her. But right now, we're going to be running that donut of- fense with a big hole in the middle with- out her." Junior guard Saniya Rivers stood in the postgame locker room with a lump in her throat. She looked around at her team- mates and thanked them. All she wanted was a chance to get back to the Final Four, and they transformed her dreams into re- ality — even if the team fell short of its ultimate goal. The experienced leader of the Wolfpack understood she was not supposed to be OK with the way the season ended. And yet, NC State had bounced back spectacu- larly from a 2022-23 season in which it fin- ished 20-12 and bowed out of the NCAA Tournament with a first-round loss to Princeton. The revitalized Pack had won 31 games, taken down four top-five op- ponents along the way and advanced to The bonds between players on this year's team were a big part of its success. Among the leaders were graduate center River Baldwin (third from left) and junior guard Saniya Rivers (fourth from left). PHOTO BY ANDREW YATES/NC STATE ATHLETICS NC State Women's Basketball Results Date Opponent Result Nov. 2 CATAWBA (Exh.) W, 101-58 Nov. 7 CHARLOTTE W, 84-43 Nov. 12 UCONN W, 92-81 Nov. 15 ELON W, 90-35 Nov. 19 RHODE ISLAND W, 67-58 Nov. 23 Kentucky* W, 84-55 Nov. 24 Cincinnati* W, 79-45 Nov. 25 Colorado* W, 78-60 Nov. 29 VANDERBILT W, 70-62 Dec. 3 ILLINOIS STATE W, 79-61 Dec. 10 LIBERTY W, 80-67 Dec. 16 at USF W, 66-54 Dec. 20 at Old Dominion W, 87-50 Dec. 31 at Virginia W, 72-61 Jan. 4 FLORIDA STATE W, 88-80 (OT) Jan. 7 at Virginia Tech L, 63-62 Jan. 11 VIRGINIA W, 93-66 Jan. 18 at Miami L, 73-59 Jan. 21 DUKE W, 72-57 Jan. 25 at Clemson W, 71-49 Jan. 28 at Boston College W, 82-61 Feb. 1 NORTH CAROLINA W, 63-59 Feb. 5 LOUISVILLE W, 77-67 Feb. 8 VIRGINIA TECH L, 72-61 Feb. 11 at Pittsburgh W, 83-47 Feb. 15 at Notre Dame W, 59-43 Feb. 18 GEORGIA TECH W, 86-85 (OT) Feb. 22 at North Carolina L, 80-70 Feb. 25 at Duke L, 69-58 Feb. 29 SYRACUSE W, 75-71 (OT) Mar. 3 WAKE FOREST W, 75-57 Mar. 8 Duke** W, 54-51 Mar. 9 Florida State** W, 69-43 Mar. 10 Notre Dame** L, 55-51 Mar. 23 CHATTANOOGA ^ W, 64-45 Mar. 25 TENNESSEE ^ W, 79-72 Mar. 29 Stanford ^^ W, 77-67 Mar. 31 Texas ^^ W, 76-66 April 5 South Carolina # L, 78-59 * Paradise Jam at St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands ** ACC Tournament at Greensboro, N.C. ^ NCAA Tournament at Raleigh, N.C. ^^ NCAA Tournament at Portland, Ore. # NCAA Final Four at Cleveland