RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Once North Carolina State woke up, New Orleans' chances of repeating an upset were shot.

Kaayla Chones had 18 points and eight rebounds as No. 4 North Carolina State beat North Orleans 82-64 on Sunday to improve to 8-0.

N.C. State (8-0) trailed 40-39 after New Orleans' Marylou Agustin drained a 3-pointer from above the key with 17:15 to play.

Amy Simpson then scored nine straight points during a 24-2 run in the second half.

"It was at that point, when it was 40-39, I thought our intensity picked up. Our intensity, sharpness, everything," coach Kay Yow said. "From that point on, we played just like we play everyday in practice."

New Orleans upset N.C. State 79-74 in double overtime last season in a game that saw the Wolfpack commit 31 turnovers. N.C. State had 24 turnovers Sunday, and New Orleans had 26.

North Carolina State's 8-0 start is the fourth best in school history. The Wolfpack opened 10-0 in 1997-98 and 1990-91, and 9-0 in 1980-81.

Summer Erb added 15 points, and Simpson had 13 points and eight rebounds for North Carolina State.

Jessica Dunham scored 15 points for New Orleans (3-3) before fouling out with 6:45 to play. She was 5-for-7 from the field, including a 2-for-2 performance from 3-point range.

New Orleans rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the first 2:45 of the second half to take a 40-39 lead.

The Wolfpack then took advantage of seven turnovers over the next 5:31 to begin their decisive run with 15 straight points.

"Their points off turnovers were totally ridiculous," New Orleans Coach Joey Favaloro said. "We had way too many turnovers in the second half (16), and they turned most of them into easy baskets."