Tag Archives: north carolina

Women’s Basketball: Marta Suarez, Olivia Miles lead No. 17 TCU to season-opening win

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No. 17 TCU women’s basketball opened their season with an emphatic home victory over North Carolina A&T this past Thursday, defeating the Aggies 82-43. The Horned Frogs dominated on both ends of the floor, shooting over 47 percent from the field as a team while limiting North Carolina A&T to just 26.9 percent shooting.

TCU outrebounded the Aggies 47-31 and assisted on more than twice as many baskets, jumping out to an early lead and maintaining control throughout the game en route to a convincing blowout win.

Sophomore guard Audrey Miles had a strong all-around performance, contributing eight rebounds and six assists, looking very comfortable operating in Mark Campbell’s offense. Meanwhile, Cal transfer Marta Suarez led the Horned Frogs in scoring with 19 points on 63.6 percent shooting from the field. Suarez showcased her versatility by knocking down two three-pointers, finishing aggressively in the paint, and drawing four trips to the free-throw line. She also added four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Returning guard Donovyn Hunter played an excellent game as well, putting up 17 points, two rebounds, four assists, and four steals while shooting 50 percent from the field. With the offseason departure of Hailey Van Lith, Hunter’s role as a ball-handler has expanded, and she looked well-prepared to take on that responsibility.

At center, Clara Silva made a significant impact on both ends of the court, tallying 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. After losing rim protector Sedona Prince this offseason, the Horned Frogs needed a defensive presence in the paint, and Silva delivered effectively against the Aggies.

Off the bench, Taylor Bigby and Kennedy Basham provided valuable contributions. Bigby scored 10 points, including two three-pointers, while Basham blocked six shots and grabbed six rebounds, adding energy and defense to the lineup.

TCU established momentum early with a 6-0 run, fueled by aggressive shot creation that resulted in three straight layups and active defensive hands that forced turnovers. The Frogs extended their advantage to 15-2 before both teams experienced an offensive lull late in the first quarter. TCU led 17-10 heading into the second quarter.

Early in the second period, Donovyn Hunter sparked an impressive individual sequence by hitting a three-pointer, then stealing the ball on the next defensive possession and finishing with a fast-break layup. The TCU offense caught fire late in the quarter, including a stretch of three consecutive three-pointers—two by Miles and a third set up for Bigby—helping the Frogs score 22 second-quarter points and build a 16-point halftime lead.

TCU maintained control throughout the second half, outscoring North Carolina A&T 20-9 in the third quarter and 23-11 in the fourth to seal the dominant victory.

One area for improvement moving forward is ball movement against zone defenses. The Aggies employed a heavy trapping 3-2 zone in the second half, which disrupted TCU’s offensive rhythm, particularly when Miles was on the bench. As the season progresses, TCU could face more teams utilizing zone defenses to counter the frontcourt size advantage, so developing a stronger offensive execution against zones will be key.

The Horned Frogs return to action this Sunday in Fort Worth, hosting Sam Houston at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN+.
https://www.frogsowar.com/college-basketball/47216/womens-basketball-marta-suarez-olivia-miles-lead-no-17-tcu-to-season-opening-win

What is gerrymandering? Here’s a deeper look at the controversies of redistricting, voters’ impact

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A significant political battle is shaping up in North Carolina, while a Supreme Court case in Washington, D.C., could have far-reaching effects on voters across the United States, including those in the Tar Heel State.

Texas and California have already attempted to influence the balance of power in Congress through redistricting efforts designed to favor Republicans or Democrats. Texas is widely recognized as a red state, and California is considered a blue state. North Carolina, however, is viewed as a deep shade of purple.

### Supreme Court Review of Voting Rights Act Challenge

The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a major Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana. This case has the potential to undermine a critical provision of the landmark Civil Rights Movement legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting.

Enacted in 1965, the Voting Rights Act forbids gerrymandering based on race, ensuring that redistricting does not discriminate against voters of color.

David McClennan, a political scientist at Meredith University in Raleigh, explains,
*“This idea that, particularly in southern states like North Carolina, but other southern states as well, the basic principle of one person, one vote was being basically ignored. The Voting Rights Act was a way to guarantee that Black voters in particular couldn’t be marginalized.”*

### What Is Gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.

For example, consider a voting population with 20 purple voters and 30 orange voters. If the area is divided evenly, the result would be five majority orange districts and no purple districts. However, by redrawing the lines strategically, as illustrated in the diagram, purple voters could secure a majority in certain districts despite being outnumbered overall.

Gerrymandering is legal when based on political affiliation but illegal when based on race.

McClennan notes,
*“Gerrymandering is a powerful tool, and again in North Carolina, it gives much more power to the Republicans than they would otherwise have.”*

### North Carolina Redistricting Plans and Legal Challenges

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts once again, which could potentially increase the number of Republican members of Congress.

In response, Democrats aim to prove that the redistricting is racially motivated and therefore violates the law. For courts to rule the redistricting illegal, they must find clear evidence that race was a significant factor in the redistricting process.

### New Congressional Maps Released

On Thursday, North Carolina House and Senate leaders released copies of the new proposed congressional map, marking the next step in a contentious political and legal battle over representation in the state.

As the situation develops, voters and officials alike are closely watching how redistricting efforts and the Supreme Court ruling will shape future elections in North Carolina and beyond.
https://abc11.com/post/gerrymandering-nc-other-states-redistrict-congressional-maps-help-republicans-scotus-weigh-voting-rights-act-decision/18016215/