What coaches Geno Auriemma, Wes Moore said after NC State’s upset win over No. 2 UConn

N.C. State (2-0) defeated No. 2 UConn (1-1) on Sunday in Reynolds Coliseum.

Not only was it the program’s first win over the Huskies since 1998, but junior Saniya Rivers finished with the best stat line — 33 points, 10 rebounds, five assists — of any UConn opponent in 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats and Info. It was her first career double-double, as well.

Here’s what UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, N.C. State head coach Wes Moore, Rivers and junior Aziaha James said after the game.

Wes Moore on NC State’s overall performance

“Just really proud of the way we were resilient. When you fall down and give up 25 points in the first quarter against a great team like that, it would have been really easy to say, ‘Oh wow, we’re just overwhelmed here,’ but they just kept their composure, kept their focus and kept fighting.

“Can’t say enough about both of these young ladies (Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James). They worked their butts off all summer, all fall. Aziaha had the big game the other night and Saniya had the big game tonight. Really proud of them and glad to see them be rewarded for all their time and work.”

N.C. State players react as Saniya Rivers gives an interview following the Wolfpack’s 92-81 win over UConn on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. Rivers led the team with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

Moore on the team’s resilience

“In the past, we might have hung our heads a little bit when things didn’t go well. Today, we just kept battling. I think that’s probably one of the biggest things. It’s still a long way to go, and I knew going into this game, it wasn’t gonna make or break our season. Obviously, it’s a great win to have on your resume. It also should breed a lot of confidence.”

Moore on Mimi Collins, River Baldwin’s contributions

“We need them to be leaders and to step up and play well, in games like this — really, in every game. I don’t want this to be the peak of the season. This is a great win, but this is the starting point. We’ve got a long way to go, but those two have a lot of experience. They played in a lot of big games, and they’re talented. We need them to continue to step up and give us balance, because (Rivers and James) can’t do it by themselves every night. We’re gonna have to have some other people step up and take some of the scoring on and things like that. But I thought defensively and on the boards, they did a really good job tonight and we needed that.”

Aziaha James on the final celebration

“I can’t explain it. It was crazy. I wouldn’t say crazy that we won, but just the moment was crazy and that I could share that with my teammates. It was beautiful.”

Saniya Rivers on seeing family and friends

“It was very emotional. I was just talking about this to somebody. My family sacrificed so much for me, so to be able to share that moment with them — them being there live with me in the present moment — was everything to me. You mentioned DJ (Burns). That’s my guy. That’s the male version of me. He’s really a big brother. He’s been that way since I got here, and I appreciate the love so much.”

N.C. State’s Saniya Rivers celebrates with teammates after the Wolfpack defeated UConn 92-81 on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C.

Geno Auriemma on losing early in the season

“There’s not a good time to have a loss. I’ve always said losses aren’t bad, but losses give you an opportunity to self criticize, self evaluate and decide and realize, I think what is it that we have to get way, way, way better at. Sometimes it’s things you didn’t know, and sometimes it’s things you’ve been afraid of and hope they don’t happen.”

Auriemma on the NC State team

“Their team is 10 times better than it was last year. They’re more together, they play together better. They know who they are. (Wes Moore) is as good of a coach as there is in the country, and today everything they did was better than ours. They coached better. They played better. They were just on top of their game more than I remember, and we got our (expletive) beat. Plain and simple.

“It looks to me like everybody understands their role. Everybody plays their role. Everybody is comfortable, it seems like, in their role. Today, they played exactly perfectly. I thought last year they struggled a little bit with any kind of rhythm or continuity during the game. Today, they seemed to be in sync for the majority of the game.”

Auriemma on NC State out-rebounding the Huskies, 41-29

“There’s this misconception that just because you’re tall means you’re a good rebounder, which is not the case. Or that if you’re not as tall you can’t be as good rebounding. We had a kid — Jamelle Elliott — play for us. She’s barely six feet tall and got 1,000 rebounds. Getting rebounds is just an attitude, and we’ve got a (bad) attitude towards rebounding, because it’s hard work. It’s hard work. Everybody’s got to be engaged. That has to change. Period. We’re not going to get any taller than we are right now.”