Tricia Liston scores 26, No. 6 Duke women top NC State 79-65 in ACC quarterfinals

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Tricia Liston scored 10 of her 26 points during a timely run that carried No. 6 Duke past pesky North Carolina State 79-65 on Friday in an Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinal.

Freshman Alexis Jones added 17 points for the top-seeded Blue Devils (28-2). They shot under just 44 percent and made a season-high 12 3-pointers, and advance to face No. 23 Florida State (22-8) on Saturday in a semifinal.

Marissa Kastanek scored 18 points for the eighth-seeded Wolfpack (16-16), who were in prime position to claim a second straight quarterfinal victory over the rival Blue Devils when Kastanek's layup with 7 minutes left put N.C. State up 57-53.

Duke then outscored the Wolfpack 24-5 during the next 6-plus minutes, with Liston doing most of the damage.