NC State Upsets No. 1 Notre Dame in 2OT

RALEIGH, N.C. – The No. 13/12 NC State took down No 1/1 Notre Dame, 104-95, in double overtime on Sunday night to hand the Irish its first loss since Nov. 30 after going into the game on a 19-game winning streak. The win marked NC State’s fifth win over a No. 1 opponent in school history, third in the Wes Moore era and first at home since 1978.

The Pack went on a 10-0 run in double overtime, while holding the Irish scoreless in double overtime until 27 seconds left in the period. The game featured 21 lead changes and 21 ties and marked the first time NC State has surpassed 100 points since 2021. NC State shot 46 percent from the field and had the slight advantage in the rebounding battle, 51-49.

NC State had all five starters in double digits for the fourth time this season, led by Zoe Brooks’ career-high 33 points with 10 rebounds for her second double-double this season. Saniya Rivers was one assist shy from a triple-double behind 14 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high nine assists with three blocks and two steals. James logged her 12th 20-point game this season and Tilda Trygger matched a career-high 19 points.

NC State’s win marked the first over an AP No. 1 team since Feb. 21, 2021, when the Pack beat Louisville on the road, 74-60

Notre Dame got on the board first with a layup off a steal, but Brooks quickly answered with a jumper and Trygger followed with a 3-pointer. That triple was then matched by Notre Dame, as the score was knotted up a 5-5 two minutes into the game. James nailed a 3-pointer, which was a part of a 7-0 run, as the Pack led 12-5, but ND went on a quick 6-0 run. At the media timeout with 3:11 left in the first, the Pack led 17-16. Brooks came up with a tough layup under the basket, and at the end of the first quarter, the Pack was ahead, 23-20.

The Irish retook the lead in the beginning of the second quarter with back-to-back baskets, and the game was tied twice until Lorena Awou delivered a putback basket. The Irish then responded with a 3-pointer, and at the media timeout taken with 4:06 left in the second quarter, the Irish led 30-29. A Brooks 3-pointer pulled the Pack back ahead just before the game’s fifth tie. Trygger made a layup and Madison Hayes then knocked down the Pack’s sixth triple of the game to give the Pack the 40-36 edge at halftime.

Both teams missed shots on their first two possessions and then Rivers made a layup to pull the Pack ahead by six in the third quarter. The Irish cut the deficit to four on four different occasions, and at the media timeout, the Pack led 50-46. The Pack did not have any field goals for over three minutes, allowing the Irish to go on a 9-0 run in just over a minute to retake the lead, 53-50, with just over four minutes left in the third quarter. Zamareya Jones got the Pack out of the drought with a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 53, and then Brooks took it to the rack for a layup to put NC State back ahead. Notre Dame then converted a 3-point play for the game’s 10th lead change, as Notre Dame led 59-58 going into the fourth quarter.

The Irish got a basket off a steal to extend its lead to three until Brooks delivered a layup off a steal and Trygger made a 3-pointer to give the Pack back the lead. That lead was short-lived, as the Irish tied the game twice with layups. With 4:33 left in the game, the score was tied at 66. James scored a layup out of the break, but Notre Dame quickly responded with a layup. Brooks put NC State ahead again with a layup until ND made a triple. The Pack was down by one until Hayes made two free throws with 53 seconds left in the game. NC State pulled ahead by three on three different occasions, including with four seconds left in the game with two freebies by Hayes. Notre Dame had the ball with four seconds left in the game and put up a big 3-pointer to tie the game with 0.6 seconds left to tie the game. James had a chance to put up a jumper, but it just hit the rim to send the game into overtime.

The Pack won the jump ball in overtime and after misses by both teams, Brooks found a hole for a layup. Notre Dame made a basket off a second-chance opportunity to tie the game at 86, and Trygger pulled the Pack back ahead with a layup. Notre Dame took the lead, but the Pack had an answer two different times, including from James, who made a jumper with 20 seconds left in the game. The Pack got a stop on defense to set up for double overtime, as the score was tied at 92-92.

The Wolfpack won the jump ball for the third time, this time in double overtime. Rivers dumped the ball to Trygger and Brooks had a runner to pull the Pack up by four. Off an Irish miss, James took it all the way to the hoop with an around the back layup, as the Pack led 98-92 with 2:50 left in double overtime. The Pack opened up double overtime on a 10-0 run, and Notre Dame’s first basket didn’t come until 27 seconds left in the period. Brooks made two free throws with 26 seconds left, as the Pack won 104-95.

The Wolfpack will host Wake Forest for Senior Day on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.