Bonae Holston scored 20 points to give Kellie Harper a successful coaching debut and help North Carolina State beat Florida International 87-71 on Friday night.

Amber White added 17 points for the Wolfpack, who opened a new era with Harper roaming the same sideline where Kay Yow built a Hall of Fame career. Yow had spent more than three decades with the program before losing her long fight against cancer in January, prompting the school to turn to the 32-year-old Harper.

Harper played point guard for Pat Summitt at Tennessee, winning three straight national championships there.

N.C. State blew a 21-point first-half lead and trailed at halftime before pushing back ahead for good with about 11 minutes left.

Ashley Traugott scored a career-high 25 points and went 7-for-8 from 3-point range to lead the Golden Panthers (0-1).