‘We lit a fire.’ Two freshmen play key roles as NC State women head to Sweet 16
Zoe Brooks smiled as she ran down the court after hitting her second straight layup with 6:43 remaining in the game, putting the Wolfpack up by nine against Tennessee.
Maddie Cox hit a clutch 3-pointer to put N.C. State up 18 points at halftime in the NCAA Tournament game.
The Wolfpack (29-6) is headed back to the Sweet 16 after defeating Tennessee (20-13), 79-72, on Monday. It can thank two first-year players for providing a much-needed boost.
Brooks contributed 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in the contest. One of her assists went to her rookie teammate on the 3-pointer.
“It was awesome. That pass from Zoe and having confidence in me to shoot, it felt good,” Cox said. “Going into the half, we lit a fire in the crowd, lit a fire in our team.”
Brooks has become a mainstay in the Wolfpack rotation. She started several games earlier in the season due to injuries, but her primary role is to provide a spark off the bench.
The rookie entered the season as a five-star recruit and ranked No. 9 in her class. She’s no stranger to big games or big tournaments, but Brooks has found a new level of confidence in recent games.
On Monday, her highlights included a layup in transition to regain the lead. Her defense on the subsequent possession led to a Tennessee miss. She scored with a slick Euro-step in the fourth quarter, too.
“Y’all seen a freshman? I didn’t see no freshman out there. That wasn’t a freshman,” Aziaha James said of Brooks on Monday. “She stepped up. She did what she was supposed to do. She got us our points, our baskets and good looks, so that wasn’t a freshman out there.”
Brooks has scored 44 points, pulled down 23 rebounds, assisted on 18 baskets and committed nine turnovers in the postseason. She logged five assists without a turnover In her outing against Duke in the ACC Tournament. There are plenty of hustle plays the Wolfpack has gotten out of Brooks that doesn’t make the stat sheet.
It means a lot that she can contribute in such positive ways, especially as one of the youngest members of the roster.
“I never thought I never thought that I could see myself out here,” Brooks said of playing in the NCAA Tournament. “I’m so used to just watching it on TV and watching people that I look up to. It’s great that I finally can be out here.”
The older players, however, hold them to veteran standards while providing underclassmen support.
When Brooks was called for her second foul against the Lady Vols, James came alongside the young guard, tapped her belly a couple of times and briefly held her hand. It was a show of support and encouragement.
Saniya Rivers called Zoe a “dog” and lauded her confidence. Brooks acknowledged, however, much of that comes from her older teammates.
There’s a lot of pressure to contribute, but the duo is doing this out of fierce competitiveness and a love for the Wolfpack.
“I have a big role in this team, and I’m gonna be there for my team and make sure I do everything I can to help us win,” Brooks said.
“I’m doing it for the seniors. Every time I go in, I’m playing 100% because this is their last year,” Cox added. “This was their last game and Reynolds. Just doing it for them, for sure.”
Even though Brooks earns a lot of attention, Cox has contributed in her own ways, notably on defense. She played six minutes in the second quarter on Monday. Her effort limited Rikea Jackson’s scoring to just two points in the period.
Madison Hayes called Cox a “hardhat player,” while River Baldwin said she believes Cox can fill big shoes. In the postseason, Cox has recorded six points and seven rebounds.
Plus, the youngsters remind the vets to have fun.
“It’s not that serious. Whenever you have freshmen come in, and they’re just so raw, and it’s not stressful,” Baldwin. “They have to adjust to it being a business, but it’s just a reminder that you can do both.”
With the win over the Lady Vols and a Sweet 16 berth, the two are excited for the next few days. They’ll go through their normal film study, recover and practice routines and then hit the court for another game.
N.C. State, seeded No. 3, faces No. 2 seed Stanford in Portland, Oregon, on Friday.
“This one is win or go home, and that means a lot to me, because I hate losing,” Brooks said. “I definitely don’t want my freshman season to end without going out on top, so I’m excited to see how it goes.”
This story was originally published March 26, 2024 at 7:00 AM with the headline "‘We lit a fire.’ Two freshmen play key roles as NC State women head to Sweet 16."
