RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Marta Suarez scored 26 points as No. 17 TCU passed its first major challenge of the season by defeating No. 10 N.C. State 69-59 on Sunday.

The Horned Frogs (4-0) pulled away in a matchup between two teams that reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament last season. Clara Silva added 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Emily Hunter contributed 11 points for TCU. Prior to this game, TCU had secured three home victories by margins of 39 points or more.

For N.C. State (2-2), Tilda Trygger scored 15 points and Destiny Lunan added 10 points. The Wolfpack faced a Top 25 team for the third time this season but struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3% from the field.

Suarez was particularly effective, shooting 10 for 18 overall, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc. Notably, she helped California upset N.C. State last season. TCU’s coach, Miles, who frequently faced N.C. State during his time at Notre Dame, scored 22 points in last February’s 104-95 double-overtime loss to the Wolfpack in Raleigh.

This game marked TCU’s only power-conference matchup on their non-league schedule until mid-January. The Horned Frogs started strong, building a 15-5 lead early. Miles scored five consecutive points as TCU extended its advantage to 51-38. The Wolfpack missed their last seven shots of the third quarter, trailing 56-40 heading into the final period.

N.C. State mounted a brief comeback, scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter. However, they were scoreless for the final 3:25 of the first half, during which TCU scored 10 straight points — six of those coming on a pair of Suarez three-pointers — to take a 36-31 halftime lead.

TCU’s scoring run extended to 12-0 with the first basket of the second half, while N.C. State endured a scoring drought lasting more than six minutes.

Earlier this season, the Horned Frogs also defeated the Wolfpack 76-73 at home last November.

**Up Next:**

– TCU hosts Tarleton State on Thursday.

– N.C. State hosts Coastal Carolina on Wednesday.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/suarez-miles-power-no-17-201253523.html