nytimes.com
NC State Upsets No. 1 Notre Dame in Double Overtime
No. 13 NC State defeated No. 1 Notre Dame 104-95 in double overtime on Sunday, showcasing the parity in women's college basketball; Zoe Brooks led NC State with 33 points, while Notre Dame's outside shooting struggled against NC State's stifling defense.
- What is the immediate impact of NC State's upset victory over Notre Dame on the women's college basketball landscape?
- In a double-overtime thriller, No. 13 NC State defeated No. 1 Notre Dame 104-95, highlighting the parity in women's college basketball. NC State's Zoe Brooks led the Wolfpack with a career-high 33 points, and the team's strong free-throw shooting (24-of-26) and defense proved decisive. This upset victory demonstrates the competitiveness of the current season.
- What are the long-term implications of this upset win for the NCAA tournament, considering the current parity in women's college basketball?
- The victory significantly impacts the NCAA tournament picture, opening the competition for the top seed and creating uncertainty among the favorites. NC State's performance, particularly their defensive pressure that limited Notre Dame's assist percentage to 42 percent, signals a rising contender. The unpredictable nature of the current season suggests that several teams remain strong contenders heading into the final weeks of the regular season and the tournament.
- How did NC State's performance, particularly their defensive strategies and shooting accuracy, contribute to their victory against Notre Dame?
- NC State's win over Notre Dame underscores the lack of a dominant team in women's college basketball this season. The game, featuring 21 lead changes and a final scoring margin decided in the second overtime period, showcased the depth of talent across multiple teams. This result broadens the field of potential NCAA tournament contenders.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the narrative around NC State's victory, emphasizing their impressive comeback and the implications for national rankings. The headline implicitly highlights NC State's win, potentially overshadowing the competitive nature of the game. The focus on NC State's performance, particularly in the second overtime, creates a narrative that emphasizes their dominance rather than the close and hard-fought nature of the match.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and objective. However, phrases such as "stymied into early shot clock attempts" and "a slew of missed shots" carry slightly negative connotations when describing Notre Dame's performance. More neutral alternatives would be "forced to take early shots" and "several missed shots". Additionally, describing NC State's performance as "nearly perfect" is subjective and could be replaced with something like "high-percentage".
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the NC State victory and the implications for the national rankings, but provides limited analysis of the overall game strategy of both teams, and minimizes the impact of specific plays outside of the final minutes. While the article mentions Notre Dame's struggles from three-point range, it doesn't delve into the reasons behind this, such as the effectiveness of NC State's defensive strategies. The analysis of individual player performances is also heavily weighted toward NC State, potentially overlooking significant contributions from Notre Dame players outside of Hidalgo, Miles, and Citron.
False Dichotomy
The article subtly presents a false dichotomy by focusing heavily on the parity in women's basketball and the openness of the race to the Final Four. While this is a valid observation, the narrative minimizes the continued strength of teams like Notre Dame and suggests that their loss signals a massive shift in the landscape rather than an individual game outcome.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a thrilling women's college basketball game showcasing high-level athletic competition and achievement by female athletes. This promotes gender equality in sports and challenges traditional gender roles by celebrating women's athletic prowess on a national stage. The success of female athletes, as demonstrated in the game, can inspire young girls and women to pursue their athletic aspirations and challenge gender stereotypes.