RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Diamond Johnson scored 14 points before a first-half injury and short-handed No. 8 North Carolina State pieced together enough offense combined with tenacious defense to defeat South Florida 65-57 on Sunday.
Jakia Brown-Turner had 13 points and Camille Hobby 10 for N.C. State (9-1), which played a home game for the first time in nearly a month.
Johnson, a point guard, departed with a lower-body injury after making six of 10 shots. She scored 11 of N.C. State’s first 19 points before leaving with four minutes left in the first half with an apparent right ankle injury with the Wolfpack holding a 27-18 edge.
Johnson returned to the bench late in the third quarter in a walking boot.
The Wolfpack won its fifth in a row.
Elena Tsineke scored 17 points for South Florida (8-3), which faced its fourth consecutive Top 25 opponent. Sammie Puisis added 14 points, Carla Brito had 11 and Dulcy Fanham Mendjiadeu added 10.
N.C. State’s lead dipped to five points early in the third quarter before it was extended to 50-39.
The Wolfpack led 34-25 at halftime, with the Bulls managing just eight second-quarter points, including Puisis’ 3 at the buzzer.
South Florida hit three 3s in the first quarter on the way to a 17-11 edge. Johnson posted the game’s next eight points, giving the Wolfpack a lead that wasn’t relinquished.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
N.C. State had only eight players available by the end of the game.
Senior forward Jada Boyd missed her second game in a row with an ankle injury. She’s averaging 10.9 points per game.
BIG PICTURE
South Florida: The Bulls did a commendable job attacking the offensive boards and that allowed them to stay within striking distance. Even with Johnson out of the game and one less perimeter threat for the Wolfpack, the Bulls were caught off balance at times by N.C. State’s ability to drive the ball into the lane.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack found another way to win during a rugged part of the schedule. Since beating visiting Charlotte on Nov. 16, the team played five consecutive games away from home, all against opponents from power conferences. That last two of that stretch came with victories in true road games earlier this month at Iowa and Georgia.
TIP-INS
Puisis and N.C. State reserve center River Baldwin were Florida State teammates a season ago. … N.C. State won the only previous meeting in the 2021 NCAA Tournament’s second round in San Antonio.
UP NEXT
South Florida: Wednesday vs. Marshall
N.C. State: Thursday vs. Davidson
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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
