RALEIGH, N.C. — Zoe Brooks had a career-high 33 points to help No. 13 N.C. State 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 ACC regular-season title.
Brooks also had 10 rebounds for the Wolfpack (22-5, 14-2 ACC), and 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 Notre Dame, and 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 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.
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.
