Upset special: Takeaways as NC State women’s basketball tops No. 1 Notre Dame in double OT
On its run to the Final Four last season, N.C. State’s women’s basketball team often pointed back to a win over national power Connecticut as a sign of its talent.
Sunday, this year’s Wolfpack claimed a high point of its own at a raucous Reynolds Coliseum, toppling No. 1 Notre Dame, 104-95, in double overtime for the program’s first home win over an AP No. 1-ranked team since 1978. It was the program’s third win over a No. 1-ranked team during coach Wes Moore’s leadership.
Moore called No. 13 N.C. State’s February schedule “the gauntlet.” It featured five AP Top 25 matchups, including four road games. The team capped off its list of ranked opponents Sunday against the Irish, a nationally televised ACC game with ESPN College Game Day in town.
“It just shows the heart we have,” sophomore Zoe Brooks said of the team’s recent stretch. “We didn’t stand down against anybody. We weren’t scared of anybody. We fell short one time, but we just kept fighting, and that’s why we won today.”
It looked like the Wolfpack (22-5, 14-2 ACC) would earn the upset in regulation, but Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron hit a 3-pointer with six-tenths of a second remaining to tie the game at 84. Aziaha James was unable to hit the game-winning 3-pointer to avoid overtime.
In a game that saw 21 ties and 21 lead changes, the Pack and Irish scored eight points each in the first overtime period and the game headed to a second overtime tied at 92.
That’s where the Wolfpack took control, scoring the first 10 points of the second extra period.
Brooks led N.C. State with a career-high 33 points and shot a perfect 14 of 14 from the free-throw line. James, known as “Queen James,” finished with 20 points, her sixth straight game with at least 15 points and her 26th game of the season in double figures.
“We already knew what Zoe could do. I still don’t feel like she scratched the surface yet,” Saniya Rivers said. “She’s an amazing player for us, an amazing asset.”
Rivers finished one assist short of a triple-double, while Tilda Trygger and Madison Hayes also finished in double figures.
Hannah Hidalgo led the Irish with 26 points. Hidalgo entered the game as the nation’s No. 2 scorer nation behind Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, averaging 24.6 points per game. She fouled out with 1:01 remaining in the second overtime. Citron finished with 23 points. Liatu King notched a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Moore now has 14 home wins over ranked teams in his career, and the Pack extended its winning streak to 20-0 at home, while snapping Notre Dame’s 14-0 victory streak in true road games.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Rivers said. “They’re ranked No. 1 in the country, so just coming in and facing the challenge and saying, ’We don’t really have anything lose, put it all on the floor, empty out the tank.’ I think we did that tonight.”
Moore, Rivers and Brooks credited the fans and the students, some of whom camped out overnight, for helping lift the team to the win. Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey called Reynolds Coliseum one of the Top 10 most difficult venues to play in.
“People usually don’t even like women’s basketball, but it’s just evolving ever since a year or two ago,” Rivers said. “Everybody’s starting to get more involved. ... It just shows the love, and it’s just very motivating to play for. We just wanted to give them a show and win for ourselves.”
Here are three takeaways from the matchup between the two top teams in the ACC standings:
Offense takes center stage
Defense was the name of the game in the two previous meetings. While there was some defensive pressure, elite scoring made waves early in this matchup.
N.C. State went into the locker room with a 40-36 lead, with the Wolfpack shooting 48.6% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. James scored 10 first-half points, reaching double figures for the 26th game this season.
James got plenty of help from her teammates, with Rivers, Trygger and Hayes all scoring seven points in the first two quarters. Trygger was the most efficient player for the Pack; starting 3 of 3 from the floor with a triple at the top of the key.
On the other side, Hidalgo led the Irish with 14 points and Miles followed behind with 10 points. Notre Dame, however, didn’t have quite as efficient scoring in the first two periods. Hidalgo and Miles shot a combined 9 of 26 (34.6%) from the field.
The offensive success continued in the second half as the Pack and Irish scored a combined 92 points after halftime. Both programs entered the matchup holding opponents under 70 points this season.
Brooks scored 26 of her 33 points in the second half and both overtime periods. Plus, the team won thanks to its 24-of-26 performance from the line. It didn’t miss a free throw until overtime. Last week, the Wolfpack lost to North Carolina because of poor free throw shooting.
The Wolfpack finished with 100 points for the first time since it defeated St. Mary’s, 101-73, on Dec. 12, 2021.
The Wolfpack and Irish did not eclipse 110 combined points in the last two meetings.
Notre Dame defeated the Wolfpack, 55-51, in the most recent matchup to win the 2024 ACC Championship. N.C. State defeated Notre Dame, 59-43, in South Bend to win the previous regular season game. It was the lowest-scoring total at home for the Irish since 2004 and tied the Wolfpack record for the fewest points allowed against a ranked opponent.
Moore acknowledges he’s not particularly happy about the defensive performance or finishing with a 17-9 disadvantage on the offensive boards, but he’s not going to complain about the win.
“We still have things to clean up, but at the same time, you see the potential of offensively,” Moore said. “If we’ll use these next couple of weeks to get better defensively and on the boards, who knows? Really proud of them. Great win.”
Superstar Saniya
Scouts from seven different WNBA teams attended the game on Sunday, with Notre Dame’s Miles and Citron expected to be top 3 draft picks this year. Rivers, who is also expected to be drafted in the top 15, potentially increased her draft stock.
Rivers did just about everything for the Wolfpack. She scored, she assisted, she rebounded, she forced turnovers. The senior guard was particularly impressive on defense.
In the first half, Rivers’ defensive pressure forced Irish guard Cassandre Prosper to miss a mid-range jumper. She grabbed the rebound and made a 3 on the other end.
Then, Rivers blocked a layup attempt from Miles. Hayes responded with a low five and chest bump.
The senior ended the third quarter by intercepting a would-be pass under the basket.
Rivers finished the game with 14 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, three blocks and two steals. It was her fifth double-double of the season.
Pack starters briefly exit game in 3rd quarter
Hayes and James missed part of the third quarter with minor injuries.
Hayes left the game just one minute into the second half after tumbling into the courtside seats across from the Notre Dame bench. She limped off the court and received care on the trainer’s table to the side of the gym but returned a little more than three minutes later. Hayes played seven minutes in the third.
James only played six minutes in the third after colliding with a Notre Dame player. She knelt on the floor, holding her face and crying. The Wolfpack wanted a foul call, but it did not get it. James returned to the bench in the final minute of the period with a bandage on her face. She and Hayes retook the court together to start the fourth, receiving cheers from the crowd in their respective returns.
Rivers said the team had to regroup and praised the players, like Devyn Quigley and Zamareya Jones who entered the game in relief.
“If we could just pause the game and wait for them to come back, we would, but the game goes on,” Rivers said. “We kept fighting, and when they were ready to come back in — physically, mentally ready — that’s what they did. And they definitely showed up for us.”
This story was originally published February 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Upset special: Takeaways as NC State women’s basketball tops No. 1 Notre Dame in double OT."
