NC State's freshmen showed up when the lights shined bright

When NC State beat UConn Nov. 12 in the Wolfpack’s second game of the season, the win gave notice that the women’s basketball team was one of the nation’s top teams. 

Four starters from last year’s team transferred or left. In their place, NC State signed four scholarship freshmen. They announced their presence on a national stage against Connecticut. 

Guard Zoe Brooks put up 12 points off the bench, and forward Maddie Cox scored 5. 

“We’re going to need them,” head coach Wes Moore said after that game. “It’s a long season, and we’re going to need more depth than we showed today. And I’ve got confidence that those freshmen can handle that, especially as they get a little more time on the court.”

The Wolfpack advanced to the Sweet 16 134 days later. Brooks and Cox, now 36 games into their respective collegiate careers, played key roles in the program’s round of 32 win over Tennessee. 

Brooks finished second in the ACC’s Sixth Player of the Year award voting. She showed why Monday afternoon. The point guard scored 16 points on 7 of 13 shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds and swiped 2 steals. 

Teammates sang her praises throughout the season. Brooks is still a first-year player, but she has already graduated to veteran status in the Wolfpack’s eyes.

“Y’all see a freshman?” junior guard Aziaha James asked. “I didn’t see a freshman out there. That wasn’t a freshman. She stepped up. She did what she was supposed to do — she gave us points and good looks.”

The first-year guard’s preparation for this week started in the film room, followed by time on the practice court. She then executed her plan when the Reynolds Coliseum lights shined bright. Brooks noticed that Tennessee’s post players tend to stick in the paint, so she spent the week working on her pull up jumper. 

Her preparation paid off when the Volunteers left that shot open Monday. She hit three jumpers during a 9-point second quarter. 

“My older teammates always tell me that I’m not a freshman, and I can’t play like one,” Brooks said. “I think that really gets to me in these big moments.”

In the second quarter of the Wolfpack’s round of 32 win, Brooks drove into the paint before kicking the ball out to Cox in the corner. The freshman forward nailed a three as time expired. That was her only shot of the game. 

Cox embraced her role this season regardless of the form it took. She knocked down a key three against UConn, and her minutes waxed and waned throughout the year. However, the forward was ready when Moore called her name against Tennessee. 

That three-point shot extended the Wolfpack lead to 18 going into halftime. 

“I shot it, and it felt really good,” Cox said. 

Brooks and Cox have a lot of faith in each other. The forward said the first-year guard is always encouraging her to shoot the ball. They’ve accomplished plenty at the beginning of their collegiate careers, and they’re just getting started. 

“I told her all week ‘If you get it, just shoot it,’” Brooks said. “I have a lot of confidence in her, and I’m excited to play with her for three more years.”

Graduate forward Mimi Collins sees Cox practice every day and thinks very highly of her as a player. The Wolfpack veteran is proud of her teammate’s growth throughout the year.

After Monday’s game, she was happy everyone got to see Cox play at at that level during a game. Cox said she has improved her confidence and mental strength over the course of her freshman year. That showed Monday. 

“She’s a shooter,” Collins said. “People finally need to put respect on her name.”

Moore subbed Cox into the game and matched her up against Tennessee superstar forward Rickea Jackson.

The likely future top-five WNBA draft pick scored 14 points in the first quarter. She’s a versatile player at 6-2 who can score at every level. Cox knew that, so she just focused on keeping the ball out of her hands. 

Jackson finished the second quarter 1 of 4 from the field. It was the only quarter where the Volunteers’ star scored fewer than 6 points. 

“We put her on Jackson, and she might have done as good a job as anybody,” Moore said. “Maddie is just so smart. You tell her something one time, and she’s going to go out there and execute it.”

Cox is driven to play at this level because of the seniors who are on their final collegiate runs. Brooks considers her teammates sisters. Both freshmen are contributing significantly to the Wolfpack’s fifth Sweet 16 appearance in six tournaments. 

“Being in March Madness, I’m doing it for the seniors,” Cox said. “I want to go in and play 100 percent and do my job.”

The first-year players proved they are ready for the postseason stage. A cross-country flight and a showdown with No. 2 seed Stanford is up next. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm Friday, March 29th.

“We wouldn’t be here without them,” Moore said. “It’s been fun to watch them grow up in front of our eyes.”