NC State falls to Kentucky at Ally Tipoff. Observations from the Top 25 matchup
N.C. State’s near-annual trip to Charlotte for the Ally Tipoff has not been kind. The Wolfpack made its third straight appearance in the early season and recorded its third double-digit loss in the event. Sunday’s matchup against No. 14 Kentucky was the largest margin of defeat, despite Khamil Pierre’s impressive offensive output. The senior scored 34 points — her highest total as a Wolfpack player — in N.C. State’s 93-78 loss to the Wildcats at Spectrum Center. “It’s cool, but I think I understand I can score,” Pierre said. “I don’t think I scored with good efficiency today, and, at the end of the day, we still lost, so it just sucks.” The Wolfpack (2-1) trailed by as many as 16 points in the first quarter after Kentucky hit eight of its first shots. Pierre scored 18 first-quarter points for N.C. State, second most in school history, and went 8 for 10 from the field. It used an 8-0 run in the second quarter to take a 34-32 lead, its only lead, before the Wildcats responded. “I was proud of the fact that our kids competed, kept competing, even though we dug a big hole,” N.C. State head coach Wes
