The NCAA made a significant change during the Chattanooga-N.C. State game on Saturday, replacing one of the officials at halftime due to a background conflict. Tommi Paris was removed from the NCAA Tournament first-round game and replaced by Angelica Suffren, who had officiated the first contest at the site.
According to the NCAA, the decision to switch officials was made after it was discovered that Umpire 2 Tommi Paris had a background conflict that would have prevented her from working the assigned game if known beforehand. It was revealed that Paris had a master's degree from Chattanooga, a fact that should have been disclosed to avoid potential conflicts.
Chattanooga coach Shawn Poppie expressed surprise at the sudden change, stating that he was informed of the switch at halftime without any specific details provided. Suffren, who had worked the earlier Green Bay-Tennessee game, took over for the second half of the Chattanooga-N.C. State game, with Danielle Jackson listed as the standby official.
The NCAA explained that sending Suffren back out to the court was the best decision to ensure a full officiating crew and standby support, providing the most on-court experience. N.C. State emerged victorious with a 64-45 win, with Suffren issuing a fourth-quarter technical foul on Poppie when the Mocs were trailing 50-28.
Overall, the unexpected change in officials during the game raised questions and confusion among coaches and spectators. Despite the disruption, the game continued with Suffren stepping in seamlessly to officiate the remainder of the matchup.
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