| 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 |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The regular-season finale for Notre Dame women’s hoops will be a top-15 ranked battle between the 14th ranked Fighting Irish (21-6, 13-4) and fourth-ranked Louisville Cardinals (23-3, 13-2). The game will not only feature the return of hometown hero Skylar Diggins-Smith, who is being honored during the first quarter break, but also be a ‘White Out’ game. All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear white shirts.
Tip inside Purcell Pavilion on Sunday will commence at Noon ET. The game will be be broadcast live on ESPN2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
1) A win on Sunday would be history in the making for a storied program. For the first time, Notre Dame would have knocked off two top-five ranked wins in the same regular season. The Irish previously defeated No. 3 NC State on Feb. 1.
2) A win would automatically secure the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament, regardless of Virginia Tech outcome. If both the Irish and Hokies lose, the Irish remain the No. 3 seed as well. In fact, Notre Dame owns tiebreakers over both Virginia Tech and North Carolina. In addition, a win would almost certainly lock the Irish in a hosting position for the NCAA Tournament.
3) The quest for a perfect home record – The Irish are currently 13-0 at home.
IN THE NET + BRACKETOLOGY
In the updated NCAA committee projections, ND was picked as the 14th best team in the country and a four-seed in the Spokane Regional. The same holds true in the latest ESPN bracketology update, with the Irish in a hosting position as a No. 4 seed.
In terms of the NET, as of Saturday morning, ND checked in at No. 18.
Against the NET top-25, the Irish are 3-3. Against the top-50 they are 5-6 and against the top-100 they are 13-6. Thus no losses outside the NET top-100.
ACC COACH OF THE YEAR?
Just her 2nd year with the program but her first true full calendar year with the team – Coach Ivey already has the program back on the national scene in one of the biggest turnarounds. Around this time last year, Notre Dame finished 10-10 overall and didn’t make the NCAA tournament for the first time in a quarter of a century. Then Coach Ivey worked her magic.
Notre Dame is currently 21-6 overall and ranked 14th in the nation after starting the year unranked. They are 13-4 in the ACC and currently sit in 3rd place, after being projected to finish in 6th place. The Irish are a projected 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Coach Ivey boasts four ranked wins on the year which include No. 16 Georgia Tech on the road and No. 3 NC State at home.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
It was a season defining four-game homestand for the Irish around the start of February, as Notre Dame knocked off Syracuse, Boston College, No. 3 NC State and (RV) Virginia Tech. Fast forward to now and the Irish are 13-0 at home this season– its best mark since the 2017-18 national championship season (they went 15-0 at home).
In terms of undefeated ACC teams at home, it’s just Notre Dame and Louisville. In terms of other P5’s: Michigan in the B1G and South Carolina in the SEC.
6X ACC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Guard Sonia Citron claimed ACC Freshman of the Week 4 times in the first 6 weeks of play, and now boasts 6 on the year, making her a favorite for ACC Freshman of the Year.
Citron tied 2019 alumna Brianna Turner for the program record with six ACC FOTW honors. Going back into the program’s Big East days, both Jacqueline Batteast (01-02) and Alicia Ratay (99-00) were each six-time winners as well.
In addition, her six ACC Freshman of the Week honors are the most by a student-athlete since North Carolina’s Janelle Bailey had seven during the 2017-18 campaign.
ACC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR RACE
When it comes to Freshman-Only ACC rankings — Citron ranks 2nd in scoring (by a point), 1st in rebounding and 3rd in assists – making her the only freshman in the top-3 in all three. In fact, Citron has the highest PTS+REB+AST/Game of any ACC freshman with her 20.9 compared to Day-Wilson’s 18.9. Citron also boasts the most double-doubles of any ACC freshman with five – next highest is one.
Citron is 1-of-3 freshmen in the entire country averaging at least 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and 1 steal. Thus, reiterating the fact she’s in rare freshman company and the most complete freshman in the ACC.
DODSON PLAYING HER WAY INTO DPOTY CONVO
Her teammates might joke she’s the grandma of the team but the emphasis was on the first half of the word – Grand. Dodson was the MVP in the win over No. 3 NC State on Feb. 1 – recording a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, all while putting All-American Elissa Cunane in foul trouble for most of the game and at bay with just 13 points.
Then two nights later, Dodson made one of the top-scorers in the ACC and a LIsa Leslie Award finalist, Elizabeth Kitley, a non-factor – holding her to 10 points under her season average.
Not to mention her 2.8 blocks/game ranks 8th in the nation and leads the ACC. She’s collected 14 blocks over the last 3 games.
WHO’S HOT?!
Maya Dodson has recorded 7 double-doubles on the season and they all have come in the last 12 games. Two of which have been 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles. In addition, she’s posted 13 double-digit scoring performances in the last 15 games.
Sonia Citron is coming on strong down the stretch – tallying double figures in 16 of her last 20 games or 11 in her last 12.
PUSHING PAST LATE GAME STEREOTYPES
In a must-win game that had major ACC & NCAA Tournament ramifications, the Irish found way to secure an overtime win at No. 16 Georgia Tech. Despite the Yellow Jackets battling down nine to start the fourth, the Irish pushed forward in a hostile environment in a 72-66 victory, marking their first OT win since the 2018 Final Four.
Dara Mabrey played hero. She hit a shot clock buzzer-beater at 2:56 in the 4th then a big and-one at 1:23. She then scored 6 of her 11 points in OT.
In addition, three Irish recorded double-doubles for the first time since Jessica Shepard (20p/13r), Brianna Turner (15p/15r), Marina Mabrey (12p/12a), vs UConn, 4/5/19 (Tampa). This time around it was Maya Dodson (11p/11r), Maddy Westbeld (10p/10r) and Sonia Citron (10p/11r).
MILES ATTRACTING EYEBALLS AND WATCH LISTS
Miles has played herself onto two prestigious watch lists. First it was the Nancy Lieberman Award top-10, recognizing the best 10 point guards this season. Shortly after, she was named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, recognizing the top-25 players in the country, regardless of position.
Notre Dame’s point guard ranks fourth in the NATION in assists per game as a FRESHMAN, averaging 7.2/game. However, Miles is more than just stylish assists and great vision, she’s a dynamic playmaker.
Miles leads the 14th ranked Irish in scoring (13.8), she’s 4th in the ACC in steals (1.9) and also reels in 5.7 boards/game.
Miles and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark are the only players in the country averaging at least 13 points / 5 rebounds / 7 assists. She simply does it all.
And by the way, she boasts seven double-doubles on the year, which ranks 5th in the ACC. And of those seven, one of them is a triple-double, as Miles became just the 2nd Irish freshman in program history to do so.
SHOT OF CITRON IN THE 4TH
In terms of needed offensive surges in the fourth aka crunch time, look no further than Sonia Citron. The freshman has turned it on as of late as evidenced below.
Strong 4th quarters within the last month: 6 of her 21 vs Clemson // 8 of her 15 vs Miami // 6 of her 15 at FSU // 10 of her 13 vs Syracuse // 8 of her 12 vs Pitt.
FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION
Therefore, Notre Dame doesn’t just have one, but two super freshmen in Citron and Miles who will be the building blocks for years to come.
ESPN Women’s Hoops put both Miles and Citron on their midseason top-10 freshman list. Miles was ranked No. 2, while Citron checked in at No. 6. Notre Dame was the only program with two freshmen on the list.
In fact, Notre Dame is the only Power-Five school with two freshmen averaging double figures. Furthermore, there’s only one other school in Division I with 2 freshmen averaging at least 11 ppg – Pacific – Anaya James and Elizabeth Elliot.
A 6-1 versatile guard, Citron does it all for Coach Ivey and is arguably the toughest player on the team. She’s averaging an impressive 11.7 points while ranking 2nd on the team in rebounds (6.7), 3rd in assists (2.4) and 2nd in steals (1.5).
Sonia has become ND’s best rebounding guard with 6.7 boards/game, which ranks 2nd on the team and 10th in the ACC. She’s reeling in 7.7 rebounds/game in ACC play, which ranks 7th in the league. Meanwhile, her 5.8 defensive boards/game in ACC play ranks 5th.
Then there’s Olivia Miles, who has already been detailed above. Ultimately, Miles ranks in the top-15 in the ACC in 6 different stat categories: Scoring, FG%, Assists, Steals, A/TO Ratio and Defensive Rebounds. Best of any Irish player.
ND’s 2 freshmen are its top two in Defensive-Rebounds/Game — Miles (5.1) & Citron (4.9). Both rank in the ACC in the top-10. The two are also the team’s top two steal getters as Miles averages 1.9 while Citron checks in with 1.6.
— ND —