RALEIGH, N.C. — Zoe Brooks had a career-high 33 points to help No. 13 NC State women’s basketball push past top-ranked Notre Dame 104-95 in a double-overtime classic Sunday, ending the Fighting Irish’s 19-game winning streak while keeping alive their hopes to share the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title.
Brooks also had 10 rebounds for the Wolfpack (22-5, 14-2 ACC), while Aziaha James added 20 points. That included a highlight-reel transition layup from James in which she took the ball around her back to change hands and avoid a strip attempt by Olivia Miles, a smooth sequence that had the packed Reynolds Coliseum erupting in a roar.
By the end, though, the Wolfpack had hung on in a game featuring 21 lead changes while denying the Irish (24-3, 15-1) the chance to clinch the ACC regular-season title outright.
Hannah Hidalgo had 26 points for the Irish, while Sonia Citron added 23 points — which included a tough 3-pointer over James with 0.6 seconds left in regulation to extend the game. The loss snapped a 19-game winning streak for the Irish.
Takeaways
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish moved to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time under Niele Ivey to start the week. And their only two losses had come against TCU and Utah in November at the Cayman Islands Classic. But their stay at No. 1 looks like it will be brief.
NC State: The Wolfpack had won 15 of 16 before last weekend’s loss at now-No. 9 North Carolina, though Wes Moore’s club regrouped with Thursday’s win at No. 20 Georgia Tech. This was an even bigger response, with five players in double figures while shooting 45.6% and making 24 of 26 free throws.
Key moment
The Wolfpack’s 10-0 start to the second overtime proved decisive, with Rivers finding Tilda Trygger inside for the go-ahead high-low finish. Brooks followed with a floater, and then James had her highlight layup to make it 98-92.
The Irish made just one basket in the second OT.
Key stat
The Wolfpack got a huge performance from 6-foot-6 freshman Tilda Trygger, who came in averaging 6.4 points but matched her season high with 19 points while repeatedly finishing around the rim.
Up next
Both teams return to action Thursday. The Irish return home to host Florida State, while the Wolfpack plays its home finale against Wake Forest.
