Ref Pulled From Chattanooga-N.C. State Women's Tourney Game Due To Background Check

An in-game revelation led to the removal of one college women's basketball referee during a NCAA women's tournament matchup between N.C. State and Chattanooga. 

According to the Associated Press, hoops ref Tommi Paris was relieved during the contest on Saturday after a background check suggested a conflict of interest with the official — Paris was a Chattanooga grad. 

Background checks on referees prohibit alumni from officiating a game with their respective school due to an evident conflict of interest. Paris' education came back to hurt instead of helping the official, who earned a master's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

College basketball official Tommi Paris removed from game after background check. <strong>(AP Photo/Ben McKeown)</strong>

 The switch was made at halftime — Paris was replaced by Angelica Suffren.

The NCAA gave a statement to the AP regarding the head-scratching change from Saturday's game. According to The Athletic, Paris previously officiated a Chattanooga game on Dec. 2, 2023.

"There was a switch of game officials at halftime of the Chattanooga-N.C. 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 NCAA said in a statement.

Further insight provided to The Athletic revealed that Paris failed to disclose her association to the NCAA. Chattanooga coach Shawn Poppie gave his reaction to the surprising mid-game change.

"They literally just… got me in the locker room and said they were making a change," Poppie said. "I don’t know what happened. I didn’t see anything specific. Maybe the second time in my career that’s happened. But the other one there was an injury, so you knew. But this one, I’m not really sure."

Not even Paris could deliver the Mocs from defeat. N.C. State defeated Chattanooga, 64-45.

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