NOTRE DAME, Ind. – It was a night 2014 alumna Natalie Achonwa will never forget, as she became the sixth Notre Dame women’s basketball inductee into the program’s Ring of Honor. After Achonwa’s banner was raised, the No. 16/14 Notre Dame squad treated the two-time Olympian and Indiana Fever star to an 84-60 win over Loyola Maryland.
Katlyn Gilbert was the heroine of the night in her first career start, blowing past her previous career high of 14 points with a team best 24 points. Freshman Anaya Peoples recorded her second straight game in double figures with a season-best 19 points to go with her seven rebounds.
Destinee Walker also contributed a big night with 19 points and six boards. Next, Sam Brunelle rounded out the double-digit scorers with a near double-double of 12 points and nine rebounds.
How It Happened
Notre Dame connected on four consecutive field goals to take an 11-5 lead by the first quarter media timeout. The Notre Dame defense limited Loyola to 3-of-19 shooting for the period, as the Irish offense capitalized by ending the quarter on a 10-2 run to go up 19-7.
The Greyhounds started the second quarter on a 9-2 scoring spree, cutting the deficit to 21-16 at the 6:50 mark, which prompted a Notre Dame timeout. The Irish quickly responded with a 7-0 run in a 56-second span, with Walker contributing five of the points, including her first trey in an Irish uniform. The Irish capitalized on the momentum by outscoring Loyola 19-6 to end the half.
Walker led all Irish at the half with 13 points while Gilbert followed right behind with 11. In addition, the Irish boasted a 40-22 lead at the midway point.
Peoples scored the first four points of the second half, pushing her point total to double digits, while Gilbert surpassed her career high (previously 14 points) by the 6:56 mark. All-in-all, Gilbert and Peoples combined for 12 of the team’s 20 third quarter points.
The Gilbert and Peoples connection continued in the fourth, as the duo combined for 14 of the team’s 24 points. Furthermore, Nicole Benz, Cate Murdock, Maggie Murdock and Katie Keyes all saw action in the final two minutes.
The Irish finished the game with a 48.5 shooting percentage, while Loyola was limited to 31.6 percent. The Irish also scored 42 of their points in the paint.
Notes
- Notre Dame now leads the all-time series, 3-0, against Loyola Maryland.
- Gilbert achieved a career high in points after pouring in 24 tonight on 9-of-15 shooting. The sophomore also reeled in a career high six rebounds.
- Cosgrove tied her career high in points (6) and set a new career best in rebounds with eight.
- Peoples registered double-digit points for the second consecutive game. After tallying 11 points at Fordham, the freshman notched 19 tonight on 9-of-14 shooting. She also reeled in seven boards for the second straight game.
- Walker tallied double-digit points for the second straight game with 19 tonight. Walker shot 6-of-14 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.
- Brunelle also recorded double-digit points for the second straight game with 12 against Loyola. Brunelle almost achieved a double-double with nine boards.
- Sniezek dished out six assists tonight to bring her season total to 12.
- Achonwa joins Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ruth Riley-Hunter, Beth Cunningham, Niele Ivey and Kayla McBride in the Ring of Honor at Purcell Pavilion.
- Gilbert made her first career start for the Irish.
- The Irish have now won 48 straight contests in the month of November.
Up Next
The Irish host a familiar foe in Tennessee in a Big Monday matchup on ESPN2. The game will tip at 7 p.m. ET inside Purcell Pavilion.
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