NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 2 Notre Dame women’s basketball team rolled to a 103-53 victory against Binghamton on Sunday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion. The Irish (9-1) recorded a season-high 27 assists on 39 made field goals versus the Bearcats (5-6).
Both Marina Mabrey and Arike Ogunbowale achieved double-doubles. Mabrey earned a season high 21 points to complement her career-high-tying 10 assists. Ogunbowale tallied 13 points and a career high 11 rebounds. Six Irish players finished in double figures.
“I was really excited the way the game played out because we’ve really been working on a little bit more motion and a little more rhythm to the offense. I was thrilled we had a season-high 27 assists tonight,” Karen & Kevin Keyes Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw said. “We’ve definitely been lacking in that area so it was great to see how we shared the ball and moved.”
How It Happened
Notre Dame started the game a perfect 10-for-10 from the field and recorded a 13-0 run halfway through the first quarter, which was capped by a Mabrey three pointer. By the end of the period, the Irish were up 28-18 after shooting 70.6 percent from the field. Jackie Young led with nine points.
The Irish were clicking on both ends of the court in the second, starting the quarter on a 21-0 run. Binghamton didn’t get on the board until the 4:25 mark. Ogunbowale connected on landmark point No. 2,001 at the 7:19 mark off a left side jumper near the free throw line.
At the half, Notre Dame was up 56-29 over Binghamton, shooting 66.7 percent (20-for-30) in the first half. Young and Mabrey each had 15 points at the break, followed by Shepard’s 12.
The Irish outscored the Bearcats 33-12 in the third in which 12 points came from Turner. By the end of the period, both Mabrey and Ogunbowale had achieved their respective double-doubles and Notre Dame had already surpassed its season high in assists.
By the time the starters took to the bench in the fourth, Young had her fourth game of 20-plus points with a game-high tying 21-point performance. Shepard finished perfect from the field at 8-for-8 resulting in 18 points, and Turner also earned a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Mikayla Vaughn neared a double-double at the buzzer, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Player of the Game
Mabrey finished the game with a season-high 21 points and a career-high-tying 10 assists for the double-double. The senior shot 9-of-14 from the field, including a pair of treys.
Stat of the Game
Ogunbowale surpassed the 2,000 career point milestone today in her 13-point performance against Binghamton. The senior became the fifth Irish player in program history to surpass 2,000 points, joining Notre Dame greats Ruth Riley, Katryna Gaither, Beth (Morgan) Cunningham and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Notes
- Notre Dame now leads the overall series, 1-0, against Binghamton
- Coach McGraw earned career win No. 897.
- Ogunbowale surpassed the 2,000 career point milestone. She now boasts 2,006 in her career, which ranks fifth all-time. The No. 4 spot is held by Riley with 2,074 points.
- Shepard recorded her ninth straight game with double-digit points, which ties her season high from a year ago.
- Young set a new career best of nine straight games in double figures.
- With two threes this afternoon, Mabrey has secured a three in 23 straight games, which ranks second all-time behind Beth (Morgan) Cunningham’s 35.
- Irish started the game a perfect 10-for-10 from the floor and finished with their best shooting quarter of the season at 70.6 percent (12-of-17)
- The Irish started the second quarter on a 21-0 run, marking their best scoring run of the season. The previous was 16 straight against Iowa on Nov. 29.
- Irish shot 66.7 percent in the first half. It marked the first time the team shot over 65 percent in a half since the first half vs Clemson on Jan. 21, 2018.
- Mabrey earned her first double-double on the season and third of her career with 21 points and 10 assists. The assist number tied her career high.
- Ogunbowale netted her second double-double on the year with 13 points and a career high 11 rebounds. She now has six in her career.
- The 103-53 victory marked the fourth time this season Notre Dame scored over 100 points.
- Six Irish players finished in double figures for the first time since at Florida State on Jan. 28, 2018.
Up Next
Up next, the Irish remain home one last time before the holidays, welcoming in Western Kentucky on Wednesday, Dec. 19. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ACCN Extra.
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