| GAME 12 | No. 3 Notre Dame (9-2) vs Loyola MD (5-4) |
|---|---|
| WHEN: | Sunday, Dec. 22 | 12 p.m. |
| WHERE | South Bend, Ind. | Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center |
| WATCH: | ACCNX |
| LISTEN: | Notre Dame Radio Network |
| SOCIAL: | @NDWBB | #GOIRISH |
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — After three games at home over the last 10 days, No. 19 Notre Dame (12-3, 3-2) heads back on the road for a Thursday date with Virginia (8-8, 0-5). It is the program’s first visit to Charlottesville in almost four years due to Multiple COVID-19 reschedulings and postponements. Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey has yet to visit John Paul Jones Arena as a head coach.
The two teams are trending in very different directions. Notre Dame — which is playing with both Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld for three games in a row for the first time since Nov. 15 — has handily won back-to-back games over Boston College and Miami. The Irish lead the ACC in scoring offense (84.9), scoring margin (25.7), team field goal percentage (47.7), opponent 3-point field goal percentage (26.5), rebounding margin (10.9) and assists per game (17.7).
Hannah Hidalgo continues to lead the ACC in scoring with 24.2 points per contest, and she’s pacing the nation with 5.7 steals per game. Citron is still finding her way after missing the aforementioned time earlier this year, but she is starting to get hot from deep. She went 3-5 from behind the arc against Miami. Of note, Citron hit 6 3-pointers last year against Virginia, and I’m sure the Irish would welcome a performance like that on Thursday.
The Hoos have had a rough go of it to start ACC play, although they have played quality teams relatively close on multiple occasions. Most recently, UVA went to UNC on Sunday and fell, 81-68.
Camryn Taylor, however, has been a bright spot. She is averaging 18.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in conference play, both of which lead the team. The 6-2 forward was the Hoos’ leading scorer when they visited South Bend last year (13).
UVA is also one of the better rebounding teams in the ACC, and Notre Dame has had issues on the boards in conference play. The Cavaliers are averaging 46.1 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the conference. They are particularly effective on their own side of the floor, notching 16.4 offensive boards.
Notre Dame is 9-3 all-time against the Cavaliers but 3-2 in Charlottesville. Thursday’s game can be streamed on ACCNX and tips off at 7 p.m.