| 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 |
Notre Dame Notes | DePaul Notes
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s basketball team (5-6) will be playing its third ranked opponent over the last four games (fifth overall on the year) when the DePaul Blue Demons (7-1) roll into town. Notre Dame will host DePaul inside Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at an earlier start time of 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on the ACC Network with Jenn Hildreth and LaChina Robinson on the call.
The game will also play host to the annual teddy bear toss at halftime. All teddy bears will be donated locally to Christ Child Society and St. Joseph Health System.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION RISING – SNIEZEK
Over the first five games, Sniezek went just 1-of-11 from the field, averaging 2.0 ppg. However, Sniezek has attacked the basket more often over the last six games. In that stretch, she has gone 17-of-26 from the floor (.654), averaging 8.3 ppg.
With 10 points vs. Minnesota and a career high 14 points at No. 4 UConn, Sniezek earned back-to-back games with double-digit points for the third time in her career.
WHO’S HOT – PEOPLES
In the last five games, Peoples is averaging a double-double with 15.6 ppg and 10.2 rpg. She’s converted 32-of-61 shots from the field, good for 52.5 percent. In addition, she is also averaging 2.4 assists per game in that span as well.
Due to the shooting surge, Peoples has raised her shooting percentage to .480, which ranks 9th in the ACC.
Peoples has been dynamic on the boards, recording back-to-back games with double-digit rebounds. Furthermore, Peoples recorded her first career double-double with 17 points and 11 boards at No. 4 UConn. The game prior vs. Minnesota, Peoples garnered career highs in both rebounds (14) and assists (6).
PEOPLES’ RANK AMONG TRUE FRESHMEN
Since Nov. 28, there are only two true freshmen who are averaging over 15 ppg and 10 rpg in that span – Anaya Peoples and Texas Tech’s Alexis Tucker.
Overall Peoples’ 13.8 ppg ranks 20th in the nation among true freshmen, while her 7.6 rpg ranks 15th. In addition, Peoples is knocking down 51.3 percent from two, which ranks 9th among true freshmen.
IRONWOMEN
Three Notre Dame starters all rank within the top-10 in the ACC in minutes played:
2nd – Marta Sniezek – 36.3
3rd – Destinee Walker – 35.8
8th – Katlyn Gilbert – 34.1
Furthermore, Sniezek has been a true ironwoman, recording back-to-back games (vs. Minnesota and UConn) in which she played all 40 minutes.
GILBERT-PEOPLES CONNECTION
The on-the-court chemistry between guards Katlyn Gilbert and Anaya Peoples has been immediate and there’s no wonder way. Gilbert, from the Indianapolis area, and Peoples from Danville, Illinois, have played together every summer since they were seven and six years old, respectively. The duo first played on FBC together and later finished playing with Midwest Elite in Chicago.
Fast forward to now. Over the last five games, the duo are leading the Irish in both scoring and rebounding. The two are combining for 30.0 ppg and 16.2 rpg. Both are shooting over 50 percent from the field in that span as well.
IF ONLY THEY KEPT THE STAT
If charges taken was an official NCAA kept stat, Marta Sniezek could very well be atop the list in the nation.
The defensive catalyst of the team, Sniezek has taken 14 charges this season. Coach McGraw suspects the program record is around 20 set by Kristina Nelson in the 2017-18 championship season.
What a week it was in Cancun for Sniezek. The Virginia native took a charge against FGCU, four against South Dakota State and then four again vs. USF in Cancun.
All-in-all, Sniezek has taken a charge in five straight games.
TURNOVER TURMOIL
In five games this season, Notre Dame has forced at least 20 turnovers:
Tennessee – 28
Michigan State – 20
Toledo – 21
Michigan – 24
South Dakota State – 22
Notre Dame ranks third in the ACC in turnovers forced, averaging 18.4 on the year. Furthermore, the Irish boast a +1.8 turnover margin, which ranks fourth in the league. The Irish also rank fifth in the ACC in steals per game with an 8.5 average.
Speaking of steals, there are three Irish who all rank within the top-15 in the ACC: Gilbert 3rd with 1.9 steals/game; Sniezek 7th with 1.8; Peoples 10th with 1.7.
WELCOME BACK GILBERT
Last season, Gilbert played in six full games, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Iowa on Nov. 29, 2018. A year later, Gilbert has returned in full force, leading the team in scoring with her 14.9 ppg, which ranks 13th in the ACC. In fact, Gilbert is riding a career best stretch of 11 consecutive double-digit scoring performances – the only player on the team to be in double-figures in every game.
Gilbert ranks 17th in the nation in made field goals with 67 and ranks 10th in the ACC in field goal percentage, converting 47.5 percent. Gilbert also has one 20+ scoring effort under her belt, recording a career high of 24 points against Loyola.
— ND —