Haley Cavinder and her twin sister Hanna retired from basketball after leading Miami to the Elite Eight in 2023. But now Haley is set to return in 2024.

Cavinder entered the transfer portal in October with the intention of playing the 2024-25 season, her agent Jeff Hoffman told ESPN. And on Monday, she posted photos of herself in a TCU uniform. “The last rodeo #committed,” her caption read.

As a starting guard for Miami, Cavinder averaged 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season. She earned second-team All-ACC honors and helped the Hurricanes to their first appearance in the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

TCU brought in former Oregon star Sedona Prince for the 2023-24 season. And now the Horned Frogs will bring in Cavinder for her final year of eligibility. Both Prince and Cavinder have an extra year of eligibility available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cavinder twins are “disappointed and disgusted” with a recently published article about their NIL deals, Hanna Cavinder wrote in a statement posted to her Twitter account.

The publisher reached out to the former Miami basketball players under “a false pretense” and perpetuated “a blatant sexist trope” in the profile, Cavinder said.

Hanna and Haley Cavinder, who made their names known on social media and took full advantage of the NCAA’s name, image and likeness policy, agreed to an interview for an article that “would be written about life after NIL, why we didn’t take our fifth year, our passions, and business opportunities,” Hanna Cavinder wrote.

Both twins played at Miami in the 2022-23 season after transferring from Fresno State, helping the team to an Elite Eight run – which included an upset of No. 1 seed Indiana. Haley Cavinder started for the Hurricanes, averaging a team-leading 12.2 points per game.

After the season, they opted to forego their fifth year of eligibility to pursue their careers outside basketball. They have been exploring the possibility of joining WWE, but there is no timeline for a decision, The Athletic reported last week.

The Free Press, a Bari Weiss-led publication, pitched the profile to the Cavinders as “a very important story not only in the context of women’s college sports but new media culture and business,” Hanna Cavinder wrote.

Instead, the article — titled “The NCAA Has a ‘Hot Girl’ Problem” — describes the twins as “not really two separate human beings as much as a single, self-contained brand with 6.4 million followers across all platforms.”

“Thing is, the athletes now profiting are not necessarily the ones with the most athletic prowess,” the article continues. “Or at least that’s the case when it comes to female athletes.”

The Cavinders took issue with the profile for its reductive presentation.

“The subsequent article not only demeaned our athletic and business accomplishments it furthered the narrative that hard working, creative and driven women can only do well if they are deemed attractive,” Hanna Cavinder wrote. “The piece disregards our work ethic and dedication towards NIL and business endeavors.

“Instead, he degrades us down to ‘hot girl(s).’ … We are both disappointed and disgusted by this journalism practice and blatant sexist trope. We only wish to inspire young woman to chase their dreams, work hard, think big. Now we must also defend them against men that wish to sum their potential to physical appearance.”

Haley Cavinder sprinted toward the Miami bench, her hands in the air, balled into celebratory fists. From the sidelines, Hanna Cavinder worked her way to Haley, arms outstretched, ready to embrace her twin sister.

At halfcourt, the two collided into an airborne hug, sharing a moment before continuing the chaotic celebrations with their teammates.

“Hanna is always the first person I’m going to run to,” Haley says.

No. 9 Miami had just knocked off No. 1 Indiana at Assembly Hall, 70-68 on a last-minute shot, leaving the Hoosiers faithful confused and dejected in the stands. For Haley and Hanna, this was the moment they’d been waiting for. To play spoiler in a tournament they’d watched together as little girls, to help the Hurricanes advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 31 years — that’s why they’d come to Miami.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Haley says, then pauses to self-reflect. “I know that’s corny, but this is why we came here, this is why we chose to transfer, chose to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations.”

Things were comfortable for the twins at Fresno State, where they played for three seasons before transferring to Miami. When they entered their names in the transfer portal last March, and eventually picked the sunny beaches of Miami to call home, there was an assumption that the twins made their decision for better NIL benefits.

They won’t deny that Miami has better business opportunities, but that was just a bonus. The Cavinder twins weren’t hurting for sponsorship dollars at Fresno State, either. They were already the national leaders in NIL deals, worth nearly $1 million when they entered the transfer portal.

When you Google their names, Haley and Hanna have an assigned Internet label: media personalities.

It’s undeniable that the twins are making waves as influencers, taking full advantage of the NCAA’s nearly two-year-old Name, Image and Likeness era. With over 560,000 followers each on Instagram and 4.5 million followers on their shared TikTok account, the Cavinders lead the NCAA Women’s Tournament field this year in NIL value at $835,000 each, according to On3. Next on the leaderboard is LSU freshman Flau’jae Johnson, with a valuation of $654,000.

But, first and foremost, Haley and Hanna consider themselves basketball players. Transferring, therefore, was a basketball decision.  And in just one year, the move is paying off.

The Cavinders dominated in the Mountain West conference, with Haley averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game in her last season at Fresno State. She set an NCAA record in 2021-22 by shooting 97 percent from the free-throw line and was named to the All-Mountain West Team. Hanna had similar success that season, averaging 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

img
The Cavinders starred at Fresno State before transferring to Miami in 2022 for their senior seasons. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Together, they started every game and played upwards of 37 minutes per contest. But with all of their success, one thing still eluded the Cavinders: the NCAA Tournament. By opting to transfer, they opened themselves up to new challenges and possibilities, but one thing had to stay the same.

Hanna and Haley are a package deal.

“We’ve always played the sport together,” Hanna says. “That’s why I love basketball, is playing with Haley.”

That makes everything worth it for the twins, even if they are playing different roles at Miami than they did at Fresno State. Hanna, in particular, has had to adjust. With the Hurricanes, the senior comes off the bench in a sixth woman role, with her court time hovering around 17 minutes per game. In Miami’s win over Indiana on Monday night, Haley had nine points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes, while Hanna got in for 19 minutes.

It’s something Hanna was prepared for when the twins decided to leave Fresno State.

“I knew I was going to have a different role,” Hanna says. “We play the same position and I’m not the most physical player, so I knew I would have to prove myself. I accepted the role that I have. I’m a competitor. I want to help my team win, so whatever position I’m in, I’m going to stay ready.”

Hanna and Haley are talented and fiercely competitive, but they also recognize that Power 5 basketball is different from mid-major basketball. There aren’t many 5-foot-6 guards playing at the top Division I level, and having two undersized players on the court at the same time is a challenge.

But when they do get to be on the court together, the twins embrace every second of it.

“I’ll never take that for granted,” Hanna says. “Playing with your twin sister is obviously a unique situation, so whenever we get on the court together, we try to optimize it as best we can.”

This season, Haley is averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in her starting role. Hanna puts up 3.9 points, 1.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds coming off the bench. It’s a point that critics like to latch onto, and one that Haley is quick to shut down.

“If someone says something about Hanna’s (stat line), it’s like, ‘Do you even know the game of basketball?’ It’s not all about points. It’s about what she does for her team when she gets on the court,” Haley says.

Being in the influencer space means Hanna and Haley’s lives are often the subject of conversation and criticism. People assume that if the twins post a TikTok, they are taking time away from the gym, or that when they post a swimsuit photo on the beach, they aren’t taking basketball seriously enough.

It’s a misconception the two have learned to live with, but that doesn’t mean they like it — for themselves, or for other athletes and influencers. Hanna and Haley post on social media every day, giving people a glimpse into their lives, but what they show is actually a small percentage.

“With love, there comes hate,” Haley says. “I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t judge someone based on their social media. I’m proud of what I put on my social media, but I wish people would understand, not to make someone one-dimensional. You can be a basketball player and an influencer.”

It frustrates the twins to feel like they are being put in a box, but leaning on each other helps lessen the effects. They craft much of their public image around being twins. They feel it makes them marketable.

But Hanna and Haley don’t spend time together only because it’s good for the brand.

The Cavinders have always been close, even if they had their share of fights growing up.

Once, when they were juniors in high school, Hanna threw a Gatorade bottle at Haley. They can’t remember all the details of the fight but know it was over boyfriends, something they laugh about now. Another time, they went a week without talking.

Now, Haley and Hanna have learned to recognize when they need space. They are always together online, but solitude is an important part of their real lives.

Hanna and Haley also balance each other out. Haley is more deliberate, choosing to think things through and living at a more laid-back pace. Hanna is more direct and outgoing. Sometimes, after practice, when Haley is ready to take a break and relax, it’s Hanna that motivates her to keep on top of their jam-packed schedule. Because of her “go, go, go,” attitude, Haley affectionately calls Hanna her “twin-ager.”

The very public position the twins are in — the NIL deals, the fanbase, the Sweet 16 — wouldn’t be possible without each other. Eventually, Haley and Hanna know they will have to put some separation in their relationship. That could come as soon as next season, with Haley committed to playing a fifth year and Hanna still contemplating her options.

“It’s hard for me,” Haley admits. “I want Hanna to play, I want her to come back, but I also want her to be her happiest.”

Even if they aren’t together on the court or walking the campus of Miami, Hanna says they will always live in the same state.

For now, they are embracing every moment together. That includes Miami’s Sweet 16 matchup against Naismith Player of the Year finalist Maddy Siegrist and No. 4 Villanova on Friday, with a chance to continue their magical NCAA Tournament run.

As they get older, Hanna and Haley know things will change even more, but no amount of change can lessen their bond.

“There is going to be a time where we get married and have families and stuff — I’m still gonna be on the phone with her all the time,” Haley says, as the two share a laugh.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

The first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament busted many a bracket thanks to upsets by Miami and Ole Miss over No. 1 seeds Stanford and Indiana. Now the Sweet 16 is set, with familiar faces like South Carolina and UConn, and unexpected attendees like Colorado and Ohio State.

Expect more chaos and more upsets in the Sweet 16, as well as wins from the season’s most dominant squads. Here are my predictions for the first round of regional contests.

No. 9 Miami vs. No. 4 Villanova

Maddy Siegrist, a Naismith Trophy finalist, will be the best player on the court, and I don’t expect Miami to contain her. But after seeing the way the Hurricanes defeated No. 1 Indiana, I don’t see that being an issue. While Mackenzie Holmes had 22 points and Grace Berger had 17 against Miami, the Hurricanes were able to keep the rest of Indiana’s scorers in check. Against Villanova, I anticipate a similar attack: Siegrist will get hers, but the Hurricanes won’t let the rest of the team beat them.

Miami attacked the paint against Holmes and had success with Lola Pendande (19 points) and Destiney Harden (18 points). They can do the same against the Wildcats, who don’t have the post defenders to contain Miami’s inside presence.

Pick: Miami

No. 3 LSU vs. No. 2 Utah

This game has the potential to be the best matchup of the Sweet 16, with two high-powered offenses squaring off. Utah ranks third in the country with 83.5 points per game, while LSU is just behind them with 83.2 points per game.

Utah has a well-balanced attack, with 29.8 percent of their points coming from 3-point range and 50.4 percent coming from inside the arc. The problem for the Utes is going to be LSU star Angel Reese on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Reese will get hers as she has all season, but Utah has the tools to neutralize her defensively. Alissa Pili can stretch the floor — shooting 42 percent from 3 — and allow Utah to pull Reese out of the paint, opening up driving lanes for the guards. If the Tigers choose to keep Reese as a shot-blocker and put another defender on Pili, she will be able to use her size and strength to score, once again creating a mismatch.

Pick: Utah

img
The key to a Colorado upset will be containing Iowa's players outside of Caitlin Clark. (Margaret Kispert/USA TODAY Sports)

No. 6 Colorado vs. No. 2 Iowa

After defeating Duke 61-53 in Cameron on Monday, Colorado guard Jaylyn Sherrod said she likes going on the road, being the villain and feeding off opposing fans. Iowa won’t be the home team in this game, but they will certainly have their share of fans thanks to Caitlin Clark, meaning Colorado will be the villain once more.

The Buffs are a defensive-minded team that has the ability to rattle opponents. They made things difficult for ranked teams like Stanford, Utah and UCLA this season, and they can do it again against Iowa. No one can defend Clark, but the Buffs have the personnel to slow down the rest of the Hawkeyes, including Monika Czinano on the inside with the strength and size of Aaronette Vonleh and Quay Miller.

On offense, Miller will be the most difficult matchup for Iowa. At 6-foot-3, she’s listed as a center, but she also has guard skills. Miller can shoot from long range (averaging 33.3 percent from 3 this season) and attack inside, forcing her defender to consistently play out of position.

Pick: Colorado

No. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 5 Louisville

After getting tested in the first round by a worthy opponent in Drake, Louisville got the win behind 25 points from junior guard Hailey Van Lith. Van Lith is already a talented guard, but she takes things up a notch in March, and that energy rubs off on her teammates.

Ole Miss surprised Stanford with its defensive pressure, holding the Cardinal to 32.7 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range while also forcing 21 turnovers. After seeing that game, Louisville won’t be caught off guard, but they will still have to handle Ole Miss’ defensive intensity. Van Lith, Chrislyn Carr and Mykasa Robinson should be disciplined and experienced enough to overcome it, but this one will be close.

Pick: Louisville

img
Diamond Miller had a game-high 24 points in Maryland's second-round win over Arizona. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Maryland

The last time these teams played in the regular season, Diamond Miller’s last-second heroics propelled the Terrapins to victory. This time around, Maryland likely won’t need a buzzer-beater to win. Dara Mabrey and Olivia Miles are both sidelined with injuries, and without two of their best players, the Fighting Irish are going to run into a wall eventually. Maryland has too many weapons: Miller, Abby Meyers and Shyanne Sellers are leading the way, and Faith Masonius is having an excellent tournament so far.

Notre Dame will need huge performances from Sonia Citron, Maddy Westbeld and Lauren Ebo inside to pull off a victory. Ultimately, I think Maryland’s talent will win out, sending them on to the Elite Eight.

Pick: Maryland

No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 1 South Carolina

UCLA stuck with South Carolina the last time these teams played, before Bruins mistakes and timely Gamecocks plays allowed South Carolina to secure a 73-64 win. UCLA had an excellent game plan, packing the paint to pressure Aliyah Boston and forcing the rest of South Carolina’s players to shoot from the outside. It was successful in November, but Dawn Staley is too smart of a coach to let it happen again.

The Gamecocks will adjust and use their depth to overpower UCLA. Kamilla Cardoso was a big factor in the first matchup, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds, and will likely play a key role again. Senior guard Brea Beal, who didn’t score in the first matchup, is also poised to step up this time around.

Pick: South Carolina

img
Azzi Fudd's return from injury gives UConn a scoring boost in the postseason. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 2 UConn

Despite having very different histories, these programs have had similar seasons. Both started with high expectations, suffered a rash of injuries, and now are enjoying success when it counts. Jacy Sheldon, back for Ohio State, made her mark in the second-round win over North Carolina with a game-winning shot, 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. For UConn, Azzi Fudd was absent for most of the season before making her return in the Big East tournament. Fudd also came up big for her team in the second round, scoring 22 points to lead UConn past Baylor.

With Fudd back and playing well, UConn will be difficult to beat. In her absence, players like Aaliyah Edwards and Lou Lopez Sénéchal stepped up and have continued to play at a high level with her back in the lineup. Add in Dorka Juhász, Aubrey Griffin, Nika Mühl and Caroline Ducharme, who is capable of having a breakout scoring game, and the Huskies have too many weapons for Ohio State to handle.

An added point of interest in this game is Juhász, who started her career with Ohio State before transferring to UConn in 2021.

Pick: UConn

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Virginia Tech

When it comes to teams peaking at the right time, Tennessee and Virginia Tech are at the top of the list. The Hokies have won 13 games in a row, dating back to Jan. 29, while the Vols started their season 7-6 before going 18-5 the rest of the way.

One of Tennessee’s early losses came at the hands of the Hokies, 59-56 on Dec. 4. But Rickea Jackson didn’t play in that game, and the Vols had to rely on Jordan Horston for nearly all of their scoring. Now, Jackson is back and going to be a problem for the Hokies. The 6-2 forward is averaging 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game and can score all over the court. On the other side, Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley had trouble against the size of Tamari Key in the teams’ first meeting, finishing with just six points. Now, with Key sidelined due to blood clots, the Hokies will have an advantage inside.

This game could go either way, but Tennessee is playing with such cohesiveness right now and Jackson has the ability to be the best player on the floor. My gut tells me the Vols pull off the upset.

Pick: Tennessee

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

Chaos was the theme of Sunday and Monday’s Round of 32 matchups, with Ole Miss topping No. 1 Stanford, Miami beating No. 1 Indiana and Colorado taking down No. 3 Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s how each of those underdogs got it done, and what their chances are as the bracket turns to the Sweet 16.

(8) Ole Miss 54, (1) Stanford 49

The Rebels got the upset party started by defeating Stanford 54-49 on Sunday, and they did it with defense. Stanford never led and only tied the game once when Cameron Brink hit two free throws with 1:16 left to play, evening the score at 49. Ole Miss controlled the game by never letting Stanford get comfortable. The Cardinal turned the ball over 21 times, their second-highest mark of the season, including three turnovers in the final 21 seconds. Those last few possessions were crucial to securing the victory, but Ole Miss kept the pressure on all game.

The game also marked Stanford’s second-lowest points total of the season (before that, they recorded their fewest points and most turnovers in a loss to USC on Jan 15). Ole Miss also held Stanford to 32.7 percent shooting from the field and just 28.6 percent from the 3-point line. That 3-point defense has been the Rebels’ calling card all season, with the team holding opponents to 24.8 percent from beyond the arc. They did it to the extreme in the first round, limiting Gonzaga — who typically shoot an NCAA-best 40.5 percent from 3 — to a 1-for-17 performance.

As Ole Miss contested every shot, the Cardinal struggled to share the scoring load, with only Brink and Haley Jones reaching double figures. The Rebels’ high-pressure defense combined with timely 3-point shooting (5-for-11) allowed them to secure the upset.

Going forward

The Rebels take on Louisville in the Sweet 16 (Friday, 10 p.m. ET) and will rely on the same defensive formula. The Cardinals have skilled, experienced guards who should be able to handle the pressure, whereas Stanford’s primary ball-handler was freshman Telana Lepolo. Still, Ole Miss will be a hard out for anyone in the tournament since they are capable of rattling even the most experienced players. Louisville will have to control the ball and the tempo, while also limiting Ole Miss’ talented guard duo of Marquesha Davis and Angel Baker.

(9) Miami 70, (1) Indiana 68

The Hurricanes’ upset of Indiana was perhaps even bigger than Ole Miss’ win over Stanford. Here’s why: Ole Miss had to create extreme circumstances in which the Cardinal turned the ball over and couldn’t hit a shot in order to win. Miami, meanwhile, just did everything better than Indiana.

All season, the Hoosiers have been known for their post play thanks to the dominance of Mackenzie Holmes. The senior averaged 22.3 points per game while shooting an efficient 68 percent from the field. Holmes racked up 22 points in this game, but Miami still found away to exploit Indiana in the paint — on the other end of the floor. Lola Pendande (6-4) and Destiny Harden (6-0) overpowered the Hoosiers defense, finding a mismatch in whichever player Holmes wasn’t guarding. It allowed them to score 19 and 18 points, respectively.

In the backcourt, Miami also found a way to score when Indiana was not. The Hurricanes forced just seven turnovers, but they did keep the Hoosiers guards uncomfortable. They limited Yarden Garzon to 10 points, Chloe Moore-Mcneil to nine and Sydney Parrish to four. Meanwhile, Grace Berger scored 17 points, but did so on 6-for-16 shooting from the floor.

Going forward

Miami will be able to attack the paint in a similar way against Villanova (Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET), as the Wildcats don’t have size inside to defend Pendande and Harden. Sophomore forward Christina Dalce is their tallest starter at 6-foot-2, while Maddy Siegrist is next at 6-1. On defense, don’t expect the Hurricanes to stop Siegrist, a dynamic scorer who is averaging an NCAA-leading 29.2 points per game. But if Miami can limit the rest of Villanova’s lineup, then the Hurricanes will have a good chance at a victory. After that, things would get tougher, as No. 3 LSU or No. 2 Utah awaits the victor.

(6) Colorado 61, (3) Duke 53

A 6-seed over a 3-seed isn’t as big of an upset as a 9 or an 8 over a 1, but Colorado’s accomplishment is still a big deal, mainly because many experts across the country had the Buffs losing to Middle Tennessee in the first round. Instead, they beat Middle Tennessee and then topped one of the ACC’s best teams in Duke.

Duke’s Celeste Taylor was the best defender on the floor, finishing with 10 steals, 10 rebounds, eight assists and eight points. But as a team, Colorado got the better of the Blue Devils defensively. In the overtime win, the Buffs held Duke to 31.7 percent shooting from the floor and 21.7 percent from the 3-point line.

On offense, Colorado had a major advantage with Quay Miller and Aaronette Vonleh. No one on Duke’s roster could handle Vonleh’s pure strength on the inside, leading to 12 points. The Blue Devils also didn’t have an answer for Miller, who at 6-3 can play inside or outside, creating a mismatch for whoever is guarding her. Miller finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in the win.

Going forward

Next up for the Buffs is Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET). While Clark will undeniably be the best player on the floor, the Buffs can exploit the same matchup they did against Duke. Iowa will struggle to find a defensive game plan for Miller, and Iowa’s secondary scorer, Monika Czinano, will face an even tougher challenge against Vohleh and Miller on the inside. If Colorado is to win this game, they won’t do it by stopping Clark. Instead, they have to limit the rest of the Hawkeyes while exploiting their own defensive matchups.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

Miami may hold a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but twin guards Haley and Hanna Cavinder lead the field in NIL value.

The Hurricanes players each have an NIL value of $835,000, according to rankings released by On3. The company calculates athletes’ NIL valuations based on its analysis of the their on-court performance and their wider influence and exposure.

LSU’s star rapper and hooper Flau’jae Johnson sits third with a valuation of $654,000. Her teammate Angel Reese is in fifth, with a valuation of $371,000.

The Cavinder twins are boosted by their massive social media following, including TikTok, while Haley led the Hurricanes with 12.6 points per game en route to the No. 9 seed and a first-round matchup with No. 8 seed Oklahoma State.

Other players get more of a boost from their on-court presence, including Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith, who sits in fourth ($480,000).

UNC’s Deja Kelly, Stanford’s Cameron Brink, UConn’s Azzi Fudd, South Carolina’s Zia Cooke and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark help to round out the top 10. But Aliyah Boston, one of the best players in the country, does not feature on the list.

Miami picked up its second upset in two days at the ACC tournament, downing No. 3 seed Notre Dame 57-54 on Saturday to advance to its first ACC championship game in program history.

Miami, the No. 7 seed, held the Fighting Irish off until the last possession, denying Dara Mabrey a final 3-point shot to clinch the win.

Kelsey Marshall led Miami with 18 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Karla Erjavec contributed 10 points and four rebounds, while Destiny Harden notched six points and seven rebounds.

Despite three Notre Dame players finishing in double digits, Miami out-rebounded the Fighting Irish 36-31.

“They were so composed today,” Miami coach Katie Meier told the ACC Network after the game, one day after her team bounced No. 2 seed Louisville from the tournament behind a fourth-quarter rally.

Miami will meet NC State in the ACC tournament final on Sunday (12 pm. ET, ESPN) after the Wolfpack defeated Virginia Tech 70-55 in the other semifinal Saturday.