GM 11 Preview: Purdue Fort Wayne

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 22 Notre Dame women’s basketball squad finally returns to the friendly confines of Purcell Pavilion on Sunday, Dec. 12, after five games and 21 days away. The Fighting Irish (8-2) will play host to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (4-5), matching up for the first time since 2009. The Irish lead the all-time series 4-0.

Sunday also marks a special day for the program as legendary coach and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw will be inducted into the Ring of Honor. The pregame ceremony is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. Tip is set for 2 p.m on ACCNX.

RING OF HONOR – COACH MCGRAW

A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, a two-time national champion, an empowering voice for women, and to several of her former players – simply the G.O.A.T. Former Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Muffet McGraw has earned countless distinctions and accolades over her legendary career; thus, it’s only right that the next women’s basketball Ring of Honor inductee is none other than Coach McGraw.

McGraw becomes the seventh Ring of Honor inductee on the women’s side, joining six of her former proteges: Ruth Riley-Hunter, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Niele Ivey, Beth (Morgan) Cunningham, Kayla McBride and Natalie Achonwa. 

In addition, she becomes just the second head coach, joining Digger Phelps, and the third Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer, joining Adrian Dantley and Austin Carr. 

McGraw’s Ring of Honor ceremony will take place before Notre Dame’s home matchup against Purdue-Fort Wayne on Dec. 12. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 pm, with the game tipping at 2:02. 

ACC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK X3

For the third time in four weeks, guard Sonia Citron is your ACC Freshman of the Week. Citron is certainly on pace to challenge 2019 alumna Brianna Turner’s record of six ACC freshman weekly awards.

Also important to note – the ACC has ruled fellow freshman Olivia Miles ineligible to win ACC Freshman of the Week/Year due to enrolling early last winter and playing six games. 

FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION

Notre Dame doesn’t just have one, but two super freshmen who will be the building blocks for years to come.

A 6-1 guard, Citron has been everywhere on the court for Coach Ivey, ranking in the top-4 on the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Thus, not only is Citron making early waves for ACC Freshman of the Year but 6th Woman as well. She’s averaging an impressive 12.1 points off the bench. 

Citron is 1-of-3 freshmen in the entire country averaging at least 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists and 1 steal – she’s the only one from a Power-Five school. Breaking it down even further – there are only 2 players in the entire country (of any class) who are putting up those numbers off the bench: Citron and NC State’s Diamond Johnson. She’s also a defensive threat, leading the team in steals with 1.6 per game.

Lastly, Citron has been phenomenal from the charity stripe, shooting 90.3 percent, which leads all players in the ACC. She is 28-for-31 on the year.  

Then there’s Olivia Miles. She’s averaging double-digit points (11.1), leads the NATION in assists (7.7) and just so happens to reel in 7.0 boards/game as a point guard. Those numbers put Miles in an elite club as her and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark are the only two averaging at least 10p/7r/7a.

Miles also just put her name in the ND record book with a triple-double at Valpo on Dec. 8 (11p/13r/13a) – 9th ever in program history – 7th different Irish player to do so. Miles became the 2nd ever Irish freshman, joining Marina Mabrey.  

With that said, Miles has collected 4 double-doubles which is tied for the lead in the ACC with Georgia Tech’s Lorela Cubaj and UNC’s Alyssa Ustby. Her double-doubles also rank as the 2nd most among Division I freshmen, behind DePaul’s Aneesah Morrow (5).

MORE ON MILES’ ASSIST NUMBERS

If the season ended today, her 7.7 assists/game would rank 3rd all-time in program history and be the highest average since 1988. The top-three spots belong to Lindsay Allen (7.6) and Mary Gavin (7.9 & 8.6). 

The most total assists in a season belong to Lindsay Allen at 282 (2016-17). 

The highest assist average for a freshman at ND was 4.5 by Mary Gavin in 1984-85. 

Miles boasts three double-digit assist performances on the year. All other players in the ACC have combined for one. 

WHO’S HOT

Last three games for Miles:

– an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double at MSU

– a near triple-double at UConn with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

– her first career triple-double, recording 11 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists at Valpo. 

Last three games for Citron:

– career high 29 points in the win at MSU, including 21 in the second half (13 in the 4th quarter). 

– lone Irish player in double figures at UConn, finishing with 19 points. 

– near double-double at Valpo with 9 points and 10 rebounds. 

– all-in-all, in 95 minutes of play, Citron has tallied 57, 20 rebounds and just 4 turnovers.

SHARING THE WEALTH AND EXECUTING

The Irish currently have 4 players averaging double-figures, showcasing the depth of this year’s team. Notre Dame has done a great job spreading the wealth, leading the ACC and ranking 15th in the nation in assists/game (18.5). They have twice this season dished out 30+. 

Notre Dame is also ranked 27th in the nation in A/TO ratio (1.18), 23rd in blocks/game (5.4) and 24th in rebounds/game (43.80).

M&Ms

You’ve heard of the Killer B’s in a baseball lineup but the Irish are rolling with Team M&Ms this season. 

Maya – averages 9.8 points and a team best 7.4 rebounds. Her 2.7 blocks/game rank 2nd in the ACC and 13th in the nation. Her 3.6 offensive rebounds/game rank 3rd in the ACC,

Maya was named a Second All-Daytona Beach Invitational Team honoree. Scored in double figures both games averaging 13.5 points and 8.0 rebounds. 

Maddy – leads the Irish in scoring (14.3 ppg), knocking down 51.7 percent of her shots. She’s also tied for 2nd on the team in rebounding with 7.0 boards/game. Maddy just recently notched her first 20-point performance of the season at Valpo on Dec. 8. 

Miles – averages double-digit points (11.1), leads the nation in assists (7.7) and just so happens to reel in 7.0 boards as a point guard. Her 4 double-doubles are tied for the lead in the ACC. 

Mabrey – averaging the third most points (11.6), second most assists (3.3) and second most steals (1.3) on the team. She ranks in the top-10 in the ACC in 5 categories – best of any Irish player. Her 2.4 threes/game rank 6th in the ACC while her .414 3PT FG% rank 5th. 

BACK IN THE RANKINGS WITH 1ST RANKED WIN

After Notre Dame’s 64-62 win over a ranked Oregon State squad, the Irish moved in to the AP top-25 for the first time since a 2020-21 preseason ranking. It also marked Coach Ivey’s first ranked win at the helm. 

In the week 5 rankings, the Irish moved up two spots to No. 22. 

— ND —