Notre Dame’s reign as the top-ranked team in the country lasted just one week before they suffered a hard-fought loss in a grueling contest against No. 13 NC State. However, it was a statement win for NC State, with sophomore guard Zoe Brooks delivering a performance that left fans in awe.
Zoe Brooks Shines in NC State’s Victory
Brooks played a decisive role in leading the Wolfpack past the Fighting Irish, putting up a career-best 33 points on 9 of 20 shooting from the field. She was flawless from the free throw line, hitting all 14 of her attempts.
She had contributed significantly in other areas with 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Her ability to dominate in crucial moments was key in securing the win for NC State.
In a postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Brooks reflected on the significance of the victory over the top-ranked team in the country. She said:
“It’s a great feeling, you know. Great atmosphere; it’s a really big game. No. 1 team in the country, and I just had a lot of fun today.”
Her performance drew significant attention from fans, with one commenting:
“14-14 with 33 points. Wow.”
“Great game today!!! I really enjoyed the resilience and skills of both squads! Brooks kept the energy high!” someone commented.
“Game day crew 0-3 on their game prediction.” someone else said.
“STOP PLAYING WITH OUR GIRLS!! MENTION THEM TOP 10!!” another comment reads.
“Statement win today! Good job ladies!!” some fan said.
“100% is always impressive,” another comment says.
“Love when Teammates become rivals 🫱🏾🫲🏽This was a great statement game for Brooks ” someone else commeneted.
The matchup at Reynolds Coliseum had everything—lead changes, high-intensity play, and two overtime periods before the Wolfpack ultimately secured a 104-95 victory.
While Brooks’ heroics stood out, NC State’s overall team effort played a huge role in securing the win. The game was tightly contested from start to finish, featuring 21 ties and 21 lead changes.
NC State held a narrow four-point lead late in the second quarter, which extended into the third before Notre Dame fought back to push the game into overtime.
The first overtime period was another deadlock, but in the second, NC State took full control. They started with a crucial 10-0 run, which Notre Dame failed to overcome. The Wolfpack had all five starters score in double figures, demonstrating their depth and ability to perform under pressure.
Aziaha James added 20 points, while Tilda Trygger contributed 19 points and nine rebounds. Saniya Rivers put up an impressive stat line of 14 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, and three blocks, while Madison Hayes added 13 points.
Brooks credited the team’s perseverance in her postgame remarks.
“It’s amazing,” Brooks said (via Yahoo Sports). “We’re all tired. We’re all banged up, all hurting. We just kept fighting. We wanted to win this game really bad and we did everything we could to win.”
Notre Dame’s Struggles at the Free-Throw Line
Despite strong individual performances from Notre Dame, a key factor in their loss was the disparity in free throws.
While both teams had similar numbers in field goals and three-pointers, NC State’s efficiency at the line proved to be the difference. The Wolfpack converted 24-of-26 free throws compared to Notre Dame’s 8 of 10, a major gap in a tightly contested game.
Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey acknowledged this in her postgame comments, pointing out the impact of Brooks’ ability to get to the line.
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“She (Brooks) got to the free-throw line 14 times individually; we didn’t even have that many as a team,” Ivey said. “So she did a great job of getting downhill, playing with a ton of confidence, and it was one of those nights for her, having a career-high. Hats off to her, she played well.”
Notre Dame will now have three days to regroup before hosting Florida State on Thursday. With the loss fresh in their minds, they will need to adjust quickly as they prepare for another tough test.
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