During the first-round women's NCAA Tournament game between NC State and Chattanooga, an official, Ump 2 Tommi Paris, was removed at halftime by the NCAA due to a 'background conflict.' It was discovered that Paris, a WBB official, had a master's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), which raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest. This situation is notable as officials are typically only replaced during games due to injury. Paris had also officiated a game involving Chattanooga against Mississippi State in December, further complicating the matter.
The NCAA changed one of the officials at the half of the Chattanooga-N.C. State game Saturday because of a background conflict. https://t.co/W724sm1K3L
Referee removed from NCAA Tournament game due to 'background conflict' https://t.co/hi5WpsnUzW
NCAA's decision to removes a referee DURING a March Madness game explained https://t.co/be8PWlvgqk https://t.co/rg4BtHfUop
The NCAA changed one of the officials at halftime of the Chattanooga-NC State women's tournament game on Saturday because of a "background conflict." https://t.co/24UibKriAx
NCAA removes March Madness referee mid-game over ‘background conflict’ controversy https://t.co/u3t61t6cvG https://t.co/4U8wXtP1eE
An official was pulled at halftime of Saturday’s NC State-Chattanooga first-round women’s NCAA Tournament game, a change that typically only happens if an official is injured during the course of the game. More from @ChantelJennings ⤵️ https://t.co/TKzlJhj1yA
NCAA removes game official at halftime because of background conflict https://t.co/VnBldvojqY
NCAA replaced official during NC State vs. Chattanooga halftime in women's March Madness https://t.co/VcS6iOJZG2
The NCAA removed an official midway through the NC State-Chattanooga first-round game today because of a "background conflict." (She has a degree from Chattanooga.) But the ref also officiated Chattanooga-Mississippi State in December, too. https://t.co/KE0IKs9CYF
NCAA removed an official at halftime of NC State women’s tournament game. Here’s why https://t.co/HRAv3WU67p
NCAA removes ref from NC State - Chattanooga women's game at halftime after discovering where she went to school https://t.co/y3EGEvq2Zi https://t.co/GHhOUk0ftU
One of the game officials was switched at halftime of the NC State/Chattanooga WBB game because of a “background conflict” The official in question, after a quick search online, appears to have a master’s degree from UT Chattanooga. https://t.co/0MuAnsjf3v
One of the referees in today's NC State-Chattanooga game was switched out at halftime due to "a background conflict" Turns out she is from Chattanooga and got her master's degree at UTC https://t.co/YNPbNibI51
The NCAA had assigned a WBB official to a game in which she had a conflict of interest and this was not fixed until HALFTIME of said game. https://t.co/mclZypQw6E
So @tnBobSutton noted a switch of officials at halftime of Chat/NC State. NCAA says it learned "after the game had started that Ump 2 Tommi Paris had a background conflict that, if known, would prevent her from working the game." I googled: Paris has a Masters from Chattanooga