No. 3 North Carolina State defeated No. 1 Texas 76-66 in the women’s NCAA tournament, advancing to the Final Four despite the three-point lines on the court at Moda Center in Portland not being the same distance from the basket. The NCAA acknowledged the error and stated that the court markings would be corrected before the next game. NC State’s Aziaha James led the scoring with 27 points, shooting 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. Despite the discrepancy, both teams played the full game without correcting the lines, with Texas head coach Vic Schaefer expressing concern over a potential delay impacting the TV broadcast.
After the game, both players and coaches commented on the three-point line issue. Texas coach Schaefer mentioned that he was not aware of the discrepancy and did not want to risk delaying the game. He commended his team’s effort and competitive spirit, despite the loss. NC State’s James stated that the players were focused on playing their game and the line distance did not affect her performance. Head coach Wes Moore expressed relief that the issue did not impact the outcome and praised his team for handling adversity throughout the season.
NC State will face No. 1 South Carolina in the Final Four after the Gamecocks defeated No. 3 Oregon State 70-58. Center Kamilla Cardoso shined for South Carolina, scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Head coach Dawn Staley praised her team’s resilience and competitive spirit in securing another berth in the Final Four. The Moda Center will host another Elite Eight game between No. 1 USC and No. 3 UConn, with the Final Four set to take place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The women’s national championship game is scheduled for April 7, concluding the tournament.
Overall, the NCAA has apologized for the court markings error and pledged to ensure the accuracy of all court lines for future games. Despite the discrepancy in three-point line distances, both teams played on the court as is, with NC State ultimately emerging victorious. Players and coaches on both sides were focused on the game and expressed gratitude that the issue did not impact the outcome. The upcoming Final Four matchups promise to showcase competitive matchups between top-ranked teams, with teams like NC State and South Carolina looking to continue their impressive tournament runs.
As the tournament progresses, fans can expect high levels of competition and intensity from the teams vying for a shot at the national championship. While the three-point line discrepancy at Moda Center caused a minor disruption, the focus remains on the skills and determination of the players as they strive to advance in the tournament. The Final Four matchups will provide exciting moments and memorable performances as the teams vie for a chance to make history and claim the title of NCAA women’s basketball champions.
