| NCAA Bridgeport Regional: | #5 Seed Notre Dame |
|---|---|
| Where: | Bridgeport, CT | Total Mortgage Arena |
| Listen: | 99.9 WQLQ-FM | ND Radio Network |
| Notes: | ND Notes |
| Social: | @NDWBB |
| Sweet 16: | #1 seed NC State |
| When: | Saturday, March 26 | 11:30 am ET |
| Watch: | ESPN |
| Elite 8: | #2 seed UConn or #3 seed Indiana |
| When: | Monday, March 28 | TBD |
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 21/18 Notre Dame women’s basketball team (9-2) looks for win number 10 on the season when the Pittsburgh Panthers (8-3) roll into town for a Sunday matinee inside Purcell Pavilion. Tip on December 19 is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, with the game being streamed on ACCNX. In addition, Gary Sacco, a Frank Sinatra Tribute Artist, is performing at the game on Sunday.
The Irish are 30-4 all-time against Pitt and have never lost to the Panthers at home, boasting an unblemished 14-0 record. Furthermore, the Irish are already 1-0 in ACC play, having defeated Syracuse on the road in the third game of the season.
FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION
Notre Dame doesn’t just have one, but two super freshmen who will be the building blocks for years to come.
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 90.9 percent, which leads all players in the ACC and ranks 22nd in the nation. She is 30-for-33 on the year.
Then there’s Olivia Miles. She’s averaging double-digit points (11.2), leads the nation in assists (7.5) and just so happens to reel in 7.1 boards/game as a point guard. Those numbers put Miles in an elite club as she 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 2nd in the ACC behind 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 7.5 assists/game would rank 4th all-time in program history. The top-three spots belong to Lindsay Allen (7.6) and Mary Gavin (7.9 & 8.6). 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 4 games for Miles: averaging 10.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists. Her game performances include:
– 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 4 games for Citron: 69 points (17.3 ppg) on 22-for-42 (52.4%) shooting. Game performances include:
– 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.
SHARING THE WEALTH AND EXECUTING
The Irish currently have five 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 (1.21), 16th in blocks/game (5.8) and 23rd in rebounds/game (44.09).
— ND —