| 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 |
STORRS, Conn. – The No. 24 Notre Dame women’s basketball team (7-1) will travel to Gampel Pavilion on Sunday to face an all-too-famililar foe No. 2 UConn (4-1). The long-time rivalry gets renewed at Noon ET on December 5, airing live on FS1.
Over the last 10 years (since 4/3/11), Notre Dame has defeated UConn nine times — all other Division I teams have combined for 11 wins in that span. Notre Dame is 5-3 all-time against UConn in the NCAA Tournament, as the five wins stand as the most of any program.
It’ll mark the first time against the Huskies (in an Irish uniform) for all five of our top scorers: Westbeld, Dodson, Citron, Miles and Mabrey.
RING OF HONOR – COACH MCGRAW
On December 12, Muffet McGraw’s banner will be added to the Ring of Honor. A special pregame ceremony will begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. ahead of the 2 p.m. tip against Purdue Fort-Wayne. 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.
A RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE FROM CITRON
Sonia Citron played hero at Michigan State on Dec. 2, going off for a career high 29 points (in 28 minutes) on 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep. She scored 21 in the second half, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Her 29 points were the most off the bench in program history.
In addition, she became the 8th different Irish freshman to score 29 or more points in a game:
- Bri Turner – 29 on 11/14/14 + 29 vs UNC on 1/15/15
- Lindsay Schrader – 29 vs BC on 3/19/06
- Marina Mabrey – 29 vs Clemson on 2/16/17
- Arike Ogunbowale – 30 vs Central Michigan on 11/11/16
- Skylar Diggins-Smith – 31 vs Vermont on 3/23/10
- Sam Brunelle — 31 vs Depaul on 12/11/19
- Alicia Ratay – 32 vs UNC on 12/4/99
A PAIR OF SUPER FRESHMEN
The future of the program is bright with freshmen Sonia Citron and Olivia Miles and their versatile skill sets.
After the first 2 weeks of play, Citron was a 2-time ACC Freshman of the Week award winner. 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 11.6 points off the bench.
In addition, Citron is 1-of-5 freshmen guards in the entire country averaging at least 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
Then there’s Olivia Miles, averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 assists and6.1 rebounds. Miles and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark are the only two averaging at least 10p/6r/7a.
And we are certainly not skipping over Miles’ 7.0 assist average which ranks 2nd in the entire country. For reference, the ND single season record is 8.8 apg by Mary Gavin in 87-88 season.
WHO’S HOT
The obvious answer first – Sonia Citron who scored 29 points in 28 minutes of play at Michigan State. Also bright spots in the game – Maya Dodson who earned a career high six blocks, and Nat Marshall, who finished with 8 points and the best plus-minus (+7).
Also Olivia Miles has produced two double-doubles over the last four games, which brings us to our next game note below.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DELIGHTS
Notre Dame is the only school in the ACC with three different players with double-double performances. Olivia Miles leads the way with three -> 2 via points/rebounds + 1 via points/assists. Her three are the most amongst all Division I freshmen guards. In addition, her 3 rank 2nd in the ACC.
Fellow freshman Sonia Citron earned her first double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Fordham on Nov. 18. Lastly, there’s Maddy Westbeld, who notched a 15-point, 18-rebound double-double in game two win over Western Illinois.
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 11th in the nation in assists/game (19.2). They have twice this season dished out 30+.
Notre Dame is also ranked 19th in the nation in shooting percentage (.470), 17th in rebounds/game (45.25) and 11th in defensive-rebounds/game (31.0), as the latter leads the ACC as well.
TEAM M&Ms
Maya – averaging 11.3 points and a team high 8.3 rebounds. She ranks in the top-25 in the country in both blocks and offensive-rebounds/game. Her 3.0 blocks/game rank 2nd in the ACC and 8th in the nation, while her 4.1 offensive boards/game rank 2nd in the ACC and 23rd in the nation.
Maddy – 7 straight games in double figures to kick off the season before it came to an end at Michigan State. She leads the Irish in scoring (14.5) knocking down 52.6 percent of her shots.
Miles – averages double-digit points (11.5), ranks 2nd in the country in assists (7.0) and just so happens to reel in 6.1 boards as point guard. Her 3 double-doubles rank 2nd in the ACC.
Mabrey – averaging the second most points (11.6), second most assists (3.6) and second most steals (1.4). She ranks in the top-10 in the ACC in 5 categories – best of any Irish player. Her 2.1 threes/game rank 7th in the ACC while her .386 3PT FG% rank 6th.
— ND —