ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 6, 2026

Wes Moore

Gas South Arena

NC State Wolfpack

Postgame Press Conference

Notre Dame 81, NC State 63

WES MOORE: Just got our butts kicked. Played them twice in the last two weeks, and they're good. They play hard. They're tough. Again, I've got to look in the mirror. I've got to do a better job of getting the team prepared and demanding effort and competitiveness.

But yeah, tip your hat. Like I said, two times in a row here, they've come out and just jumped on us. Now we've got to try to figure it out before the NCAA Tournament and try to get things fixed.

Q. Just wanted to ask you, the second half seemed like it went a lot better than that first half. What was working for you particularly on the offensive end?

WES MOORE: No, that third quarter was horrible. Got outscored 22-9, so I can't agree with you there.

Again, second quarter we turned it over nine times. Then the third quarter, like I said, gave up 22 points, gave up 23 points in the first quarter. You cannot give up 81 points and expect to win against good teams.

Our goal in the past has been try to hold teams to 60 points, 15 a quarter. I mean, you can go back to that to begin with. ACC games, we were No. 1 in the conference in offensive scoring. We're No. 6 in defense. We've got to realize that we're not a football team. We've got to play both ends.

Q. Coach, you had the double bye; do you think having the double bye, not playing and Notre Dame played, do you think that was a disadvantage?

WES MOORE: I mean, I always think it's an advantage for that team first quarter, maybe first half, because you're right, they've gotten out there and gone up and down the court, got a little confidence, got the tournament jitters out of the way.

But like I say, we got outscored 22-9 in the third quarter, which is maybe where we should have seen an advantage. No, I don't think we can blame it on that. No.

But nice try.