The women’s basketball game between Notre Dame and NC State was brought to a halt on Sunday afternoon when a fan suffered a medical emergency in the stands.
The dramatic scenes unfolded amid pandemonium in the arena, seconds after the fourth quarter ended in a tie between the two heavyweight programs.
With the game tied at 84-84 and live on ESPN, play on the court stopped before overtime and Notre Dame players could be seen huddled up praying as medics attended to the stricken fan.
A wide shot from the ESPN cameras appeared to show medics rushing to the aid of a fan in the upper bowl of Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Fortunately, the fan in question was responsive and transported to a local hospital, according to an NC State spokesperson.
On the ESPN broadcast, Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo updated viewers as best they could from the booth, with the camera focusing on them as they tried to explain what was happening from courtside.
The women’s basketball game between Notre Dame and NC State was brought to a halt on Sunday afternoon when a fan suffered a medical emergency in the stands.
Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo updated viewers as best they could from the booth
NC State’s Aziaha James (10) and Zoe Brooks (35) celebrate behind ND’s Maddy Westbeld
‘Obviously we were all transfixed by what has been an incredible game,’ Ruocco began, adding: ‘Rather than continuing that energy and action at the start of overtime, now you have an extended delay where obviously the game is put in perspective when somebody is dealing with something having to do with real life.’
Lobo then responded: ‘Yeah, without question. The Notre Dame players were just alerted to the serious nature of it and it looked like they were saying a prayer with one another. Who cares about overtime? Both of these teams do, but there’s some stuff going on up there.’
Shortly after, the game did continue and it ended with a thrilling NC State victory after double overtime.
The No 13-ranked team knocked off No 1 Notre Dame thanks in large part to a 33-point performance from Wolfpack guard Zoe Brooks.
Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles, Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron combined for 71 points but it wasn’t enough to avoid a third loss of the season for Notre Dame.
