HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame notched seven assists on nine made field goals to garner a 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Irish ended the period on a 7-1 run, shooting 9-of-15 from the field – ultimately making five of their last six shots. Prohaska, Walker, Peoples and Abdur-Rahim all had four points, as the latter two had four rebounds to match.
Westbeld made eight of the team’s first 12 points of the second quarter before reaching double figures at the 2:26 mark. Walker connected on two triples to supply eight points in the quarter to push her into double figures at the half with 12 points. The two were a combined 10-of-15 from the field.
The red-hot Irish attack reached the midway point with a 45-30 lead after shooting 62 percent (21-of-34) from the field. The Irish recorded 16 assists on 21 made field goals and earned 16 of said points on the fast break in transition.
The duo of Westbeld and Walker picked up right where they left off in the second half, combining for nine of the team’s first 13 points. By the end of the third quarter, the Irish maintained its distance with a 62-46 lead, as both Westbeld and Walker boasted 17 points each.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, two other Notre Dame freshmen came close to finishing in double figures. Alli Campbell tallied eight points on the day, while Alasia Hayes finished with nine.
NOTES
- Notre Dame narrowed the gap in the overall series, now trailing just 4-3 all-time against Miami (Ohio). Sunday marked the first encounter since Nov. of 2007.
- Today marked the first win for Karen & Kevin Keyes Head Coach Niele Ivey.
- Walker ended last season with 10 straight games in double figures. She has begun the 2020-21 season with two straight, boosting the streak to 12.
- Walker posted eight games of 20+ points last season, including a high of 27 at Michigan. Walker’s 24 points on Sunday were behind an efficient 8-of-12 shooting day.
- Peoples earned a 14-point, 11-rebound, double-double. It marked the fifth of her career and second straight this season. Through two games, Peoples boasts 30 points and 22 rebounds.
- Abdur-Rahim earned her first points of her collegiate career at 3:22 in the first. She finished with four points and four rebounds in her Irish debut.
- Hayes also earned her first collegiate basket with a fastbreak layup at 4:09 in the second – nearly finishing with double-digits with nine points.
- After zero points in the opening quarter, Westbeld scored eight of the team’s first 12 points in the second, then reached halftime with 10. It marked her second straight game in double figures.
- Irish entered halftime with 16 assists on 21 made field goals. Plus 16 of their 45 points were on the fastbreak.
- Notre Dame’s 88 points would have been the second highest point total from last season.
- The Notre Dame defense forced 23 turnovers resulting in 30 points
Up next, the Irish look to pick up a ranked win when they welcome No. 25/24 Michigan to Purcell Pavilion on Thursday, Dec. 3. Tip is set for 6 p.m. EST on the ACC Network.
— ND —
