CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Just 3 minutes into the first quarter, the broadcast of Thursday’s Notre Dame-Boston College game went to break. The Irish had an 8-2 lead. Their shots were falling. The Eagles’ were not. It looked like the game was headed for the same fate as the Jan. 1 matchup between the two teams, a blowout in favor of the Irish.
Boston College (14-11, 4-8) had other plans, storming back midway through the second quarter to cut Notre Dame’s (18-3, 9-2) lead to just a point on multiple occasions. After 20 minutes, it remained just 32-30 in favor of the ninth-ranked visitors. The second quarter belonged to the Eagles, 20-13. Sonia Citron paced the game with 12 points in the first half, including a pair of treys to continue her hot streak from deep.
Out of the break, it was more of the same. With 2:58 to go, a scrappy Boston College squad tied the game at 43. It was shaping up to be another tough road game for the Irish.
Unlike last weekend’s loss at NC State, this one turned in favor of Notre Dame in part thanks to a 10-0 run to end the third frame. Olivia Miles scored one basket in that run and assisted on three others. It was at that point the Irish put the Eagles’ upset bid to rest, ultimately winning 72-59.
“Boston College got on a roll and was shooting really well,” said Niele Ivey, Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach. “I thought in the second half we really turned it on. Our press was really great. There was a lot of forcing steals and getting out in transition.”
Notre Dame totaled 13 fast break points and outscored Boston College in the paint, 44-32. The Irish forced 22 turnovers and had 7 steals.
Citron and Miles finished with 23 and 22 points, respectively, the second time the two guards have each posted 20+ in a game this year (Northwestern). For the fifth time this season, Miles had at least 10 assists. For the second time in four games, Citron had at least three treys.
“That’s my girl,” Miles said of Citron after the game with an ear-to-ear grin. “We went to college together for a reason, to do these things. We love bouncing off of each other, playing off of each other. I told Soni I needed two more assists for the double-double, and she was like ‘Yeah, I got you.’”
On the topic of assists, Boston College’s Taina Mair was tied with Miles for the assist lead in the ACC entering Thursday (7.0). Notre Dame held her to 9 points and 4 assists on the night. Center Maria Gakdeng led the Eagles with 16 points.
Up next, Notre Dame has a much-needed four-game home stand. The Irish are undefeated at home in conference play and average 83.9 points per game in Purcell Pavilion on the year. No. 16 Duke (19-3, 9-2) is up first at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The winner of the game will take sole possession of first place in the ACC.