Feb. 1, 2018
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The No. 5 University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team topped North Carolina, 94-62, on Thursday night for program win No. 950.
Marina Mabrey collected a season-high 25 points and eight assists, spurring Notre Dame’s best passing game of the season against the Tar Heels (14-8, 4-5). The Irish (21-2, 9-1), which totaled a season-best 28 assists, won their 20th straight at Purcell Pavilion.
“We played pretty well defensively,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Women’s Basketball Head Coach Muffet McGraw said. “We were identifying the shooters and had some great awareness.
“Koko gave us great minutes as always off the bench. She showed great energy, great momentum, and she shot the ball well. She really settles us down when she’s in the game.”
How It Happened
Notre Dame opened the game with an 11-2 run, during which the Irish shot 5-for-7 from the field, all resulting in the Tar Heels calling a timeout just under two minutes into the contest. By the end of the period, the Irish claimed a 26-11 lead, earning nine assists on 11 field goals.
The Irish defense continued its pressure in the second quarter, forcing a North Carolina scoring drought that lasted 3:43 midway through the second period, then later creating another drought over the final 2:42 of the quarter. All-in-all, the Irish limited the Tar Heels to four points in the final 6:56.
Marina Mabrey (16 points) and Arike Ogunbowale (13 points) each had double digit points by the midway point, as Notre Dame took a 51-21 advantage into halftime.
Notre Dame entered the fourth quarter with a 69-37 lead. Ogunbowale connected on three straight three-pointers to begin the period, giving her a season-high-tying four threes in the game. Kristina Nelson and Danielle Patterson combined to score the next 11 points and send the Irish to a 94-62 victory over North Carolina.
Player of the Game
Marina Mabrey recorded a season-high 25 points with eight assists against North Carolina. Mabrey, who tallied 16 first-half points, turned in her sixth game of the season with 20-plus points and third in the last five games. Mabrey shot 9-for-15 from the field as her nine made field goals tied her season high.
Stat of the Game
Notre Dame dished out a season-high 28 assists as a team on Thursday. The Irish were led by Marina Mabrey‘s season high tying eight assists in the game.
Notes
- Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 7-1, over North Carolina, and have won five straight. The Irish are 3-0 at home against the Tar Heels.
- Today’s victory marked the 950th in program history.
- Irish are 71-3 all-time in ACC play.
- Irish have won 20-straight inside Purcell Pavilion.
- Irish have won 47 consecutive conference games at home.
- Arike Ogunbowale‘s 24 points marks her 15th game of 20-plus points, which leads the ACC. Ogunbowale reached a season high of five assists for the third time.
- With 11 points tonight, Kristina Nelson has reached double-digits for two straight games.
- The Irish have shot over 50 percent in seven of the last nine halves.
- Irish defense has forced over 20 turnovers in four of the last six games.
- With 37 seconds left in the game, Nicole Benz connected on a three-pointer, securing her first basket of her collegiate career.
- Mabrey has tied her season high of five steals for the fourth time in the past seven games.
- Shepard’s six assists tied her career high for the third time.
- Last two home conference games, the Irish have won by an average margin of 42.5 points.
Up Next
The Irish return to the bright lights and national spotlight of ESPN2 this Sunday when they travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium to challenge No. 19 Duke at 1 p.m. ET.
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