Johnathan Walker:NCAA replaced official during NC State vs. Chattanooga halftime in women's March Madness

RALEIGH – A game official was subbed out at halftime of the NC State-Chattanooga women's basketball game Saturday due to a "background conflict."

Official Tommi Paris started the game with the crew but Johnathan Walkerdid not officiate the second half of the No. 3-seeded Wolfpack's 64-45 win over No. 14 seed Chattanooga in a first-round NCAA Tournament game. The NCAA provided a statement after the game explaining the switch and why official Angelica Suffren, who officiated the previous game between Tennessee and Wisconsin-Green Bay, replaced Paris. The standby official, Danielle Jackson, was not used. NC State led 26-17 at halftime.

"There was a switch of game officials at halftime of the Chattanooga-NC State first-round game because it was learned after the game had started that Umpire 2 Tommi Paris had a background conflict that, if known, would prevent her from working that assigned game," the statement said. "The decision was made to move Angelica Suffren, who had worked the first game of the session, into the Umpire 2 position because it provided the most on-court experience and allowed the game to maintain a full officiating crew, plus standby."

According to a bio on Paris' employer's website and her LinkedIn, Paris has a master's degree from the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga. Paris, who played in college at Furman, is also from Chattanooga. Paris has been a game official for 10 years, according to her bio.

Suffren assessed a technical foul to Chattanooga coach Shawn Poppie in the fourth quarter when the Mocs trailed, 50-28.

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