Women’s March Madness second-round takeaways: Zoe Brooks out for NC State

Teams are punching their tickets to the Sweet 16 on Sunday.

Don’t forget to check Austin Mock’s projection bracket to see how your team is expected to perform in each game.  And if you filled out our “Beat the Expert” bracket, check in to see how you’re faring against our expert, Chantel Jennings.

Follow along for all of the second round action.

Brooks out for NC State

After suffering a foot injury halfway through the third quarter in NC State’s opening-round win, Zoe Brooks has been ruled out for the second-round game against No. 2 seed Michigan. The junior guard missed the final 15 minutes against Tennessee on Friday, but she didn’t practice Saturday and was on crutches while wearing a boot prior to Sunday’s contest. Brooks averages 16 points per game, second on the Wolfpack behind Khamil Pierre (16.8).

This is the first game Brooks will miss all season, and just the second miss of her college career. Destiny “Kyshe” Lunan will make her first career start in place of Brooks. The freshman guard averages 4.5 points on 35.4 percent shooting, so NC State likely will need another big outing from sophomore Zamareya Jones to keep dancing. Jones scored a career-high 30 points to beat the Lady Vols, including 13 after Brooks’ injury. Pierre will also be more of a focal point against a smaller Wolverines frontcourt.

The Wolfpack use a short rotation, with Lunan the lone guard averaging double-digit minutes off the bench. They’ll have to play bigger, with more minutes for wings Devyn Quigley and Qadence Samuels, though neither is much of a scoring threat.

On the ESPN broadcast, sideline reporter Jess Sims said the Wolfpack are optimistic that Brooks could be available if they advance to the Sweet 16, as they have in four of the last five seasons. – Sabreena Merchant

What to know about the women’s tournament

• How did Iowa avoid a first-round meltdown?

• Was it the right call at the end of regulation in Clemson’s loss?

• A former barnstorming basketball player named “Peps” as Minnesota’s ultimate hype woman? Sign me up.

• Tennessee’s first-round exit poses the question: Can the program regain its edge under Kim Caldwell?

• We reseeded the tourney. Here are 16 teams we think could win it all.