GREENVILLE, S.C. — Notre Dame’s 2022-23 women’s basketball season has come to an end, as the third-seeded Irish fell to No. 2 seed Maryland in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, 76-59.
It was a back and forth affair during the first half, and Notre Dame had 18 paint points. Notre Dame went on a 13-0 run over a 2-minute period in the second quarter, during which four different players scored. The lead grew as large as 8.
The Irish took a 1-point lead into the locker room after shooting 51.9 percent through two frames. Bransford took over what is typically Olivia Miles’ role, dishing out 5 assists in the first half. Sonia Citron had a team-high 8 points.
Maryland dominated the third quarter, winning it, 26-13. It included a 9-0 run that turned into an Irish timeout with 2:30 to go. Kylee Watson and Lauren Ebo had 4 fouls each just midway through the frame, leaving a gaping hole in the post. Maryland capitalized, notching 13 rebounds. The group had just 11 in the entirety of the first half.
The fourth quarter was more of the same, and Ebo fouled out with around 5 minutes to go. Maryland’s suffocating defense led to just 27 points in the final half. Notre Dame ended up with 25 turnovers, the highest mark this year. Citron was the only Irish player who finished in double figures (14), and she led the team with 7 rebounds. Bransford finished with 7 assists, a career-high.
Notre Dame will return all players who took the court on Saturday with the exception of Ebo. The Washington, D.C. native has exhausted her eligibility after five years of college basketball at Penn State (two years), Texas (two years) and Notre Dame (one year).