The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534227
MAY/JUNE 2025 ■ 35 In recent years, it's been the Wolf- pack women who have brought deafen- ing crowds to Raleigh. James, Rivers and Hayes pulled the strings on several of the top moments inside Reynolds Coliseum in the past few years. In November 2023, they helped engineer a 92-81 win over then-No. 2 Connecticut, a game that fea- tured a career-best 33 points from Rivers and one that she constantly rewatches. This past February, NC State stunned then-No. 1 Notre Dame in double over- time, 104-95. Over the course of their careers, play- ers have heard their home arena dis- missed as "small" by North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart, who in 2022 said that "it doesn't take a lot to sell it out." With such comments in mind, the veteran trio enjoyed packing the arena with some of the most passionate fans in women's college basketball. "I know people hate us because we have a 'small gym,' but it's wholesome," said Rivers, a Wilmington, N.C., native. "It's family. I love playing here. I used to watch the games all the time when I was growing up, so being able to play on the court here was amazing." 'That's Reynolds For You' The magic of Reynolds Coliseum was on full display in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A fired-up crowd helped rev the Pack's engine early in its matchup against Michigan State, and the hosts took off like a jet engine. NC State took a 16-point lead by the end of the first quarter before the advantage swelled to as many as 36 points in the fourth. "That's Reynolds for you," Rivers said. "They show up every time. There's al- ways that red, anywhere we go. It's hard to beat us in this building." Almost every team that has set foot in Raleigh has found that out the hard way. It's a unique vibe, one that has consistently worked to the Wolfpack's advantage. NC State's fan base travels well, too, and it did so yet again when the Pack headed to Spokane, Wash., to face LSU in the regional semifinals. Coach Wes Moore's team wasn't able to hold off the Tigers, falling, 80-73, on March 28. But that result didn't erase any of the memories that NC State had made back in Raleigh during its sprint to the Sweet 16. For Hayes, who spent the past four years at NC State after transferring from Mississippi State, being able to give the team's faithful one last show on the Reynolds Coliseum hardwood was some- thing she and her fellow veterans relished. "It's just really special being able to end that way," Hayes said. "It was just a special moment for us seniors." ■ Season Record Pct. Coach 1974-75 6-1 .857 Peanut Doak 1975-76 6-1 .857 Kay Yow 1976-77 10-1 .909 Kay Yow 1977-78 12-0 1.000 Kay Yow 1978-79 13-2 .867 Kay Yow 1979-80 11-1 .917 Kay Yow 1980-81 9-3 .750 Kay Yow 1981-82 17-3 .850 Kay Yow 1982-83 11-2 .846 Kay Yow 1983-84 12-3 .800 Kay Yow 1984-85 11-1 .917 Kay Yow 1985-86 9-4 .692 Kay Yow 1986-87 11-2 .846 Kay Yow 1987-88 7-7 .500 Kay Yow 1988-89 11-2 .846 Kay Yow 1989-90 12-1 .923 Kay Yow 1990-91 12-2 .857 Kay Yow 1991-92 9-3 .750 Kay Yow 1992-93 10-2 .833 Kay Yow 1993-94 6-6 .500 Kay Yow 1994-95 9-3 .750 Kay Yow 1995-96 8-2 .800 Kay Yow 1996-97 12-1 .923 Kay Yow 1997-98 13-1 .929 Kay Yow 1998-99 8-5 .615 Kay Yow 1999-2000 11-2 .846 Kay Yow 2000-01 11-4 .733 Kay Yow 2001-02 9-5 .643 Kay Yow 2002-03 7-7 .500 Kay Yow 2003-04 9-5 .643 Kay Yow 2004-05 10-2 .833 Kay Yow 2005-06 11-3 .786 Kay Yow 2006-07 15-1 .938 Kay Yow 2007-08 14-4 .778 Kay Yow 2008-09 9-6 .600 Kay Yow 2009-10 13-3 .813 Kellie Harper 2010-11 9-5 .643 Kellie Harper 2011-12 9-9 .500 Kellie Harper 2012-13 11-6 .647 Kellie Harper 2013-14 14-2 .875 Wes Moore 2014-15 12-4 .750 Wes Moore 2015-16 11-4 .733 Wes Moore 2016-17 14-2 .875 Wes Moore 2017-18 16-2 .889 Wes Moore 2018-19 17-2 .895 Wes Moore 2019-20 13-3 .813 Wes Moore 2020-21 11-0 1.000 Wes Moore 2021-22 17-2 .895 Wes Moore 2022-23 12-3 .800 Wes Moore 2023-24 17-1 .944 Wes Moore 2024-25 18-0 1.000 Wes Moore Total 575-146 .798 NC State's All-Time Home Record NC State pulled off one of the biggest home wins in program history when it topped then-No. 1 Notre Dame, 104-95 in double overtime, on Feb. 23. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS " I know people hate us because we have a 'small gym,' but it's wholesome. It's family. I love playing here. I used to watch the games all the time when I was growing up, so being able to play on the court here was amazing." Senior Guard Saniya Rivers