| 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 | Miami Notes
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s basketball squad looks to get back in the win column on Sunday, Jan. 19, when the Fighting Irish (6-12, 1-5) host the Miami Hurricanes (10-7, 2-4) at 1 p.m. ET inside Purcell Pavilion. Sunday’s contest will broadcast live on the ACC Network.
Sunday also marks the annual YWCA Toiletries drive, where we encourage all fans to bring toiletries to the game and drop them in the donation boxes upon entering the arena. All donations will be given to the Northwest Indiana YWCA Women’s Shelter.
HISTORY WITH MIAMI
Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Miami, 20-5, with a 9-2 mark inside Purcell Pavilion. The Irish look to avenge last season’s loss in Miami when they dropped a 72-65 decision.
ND FRESHMEN STACKING UP HISTORICALLY
Peoples, Brunelle and Gilbert (by eligibility) are on pace to etch their names in the Notre Dame freshmen record books. All three could end up in the top-10 scoring-average list. Gilbert leads the way with her 13.8 ppg, which would tie Skylar Diggins for fourth. Brunelle averages 13.1, while Peoples averages 12.6.
AS A FRESHMAN
Player / Average / Season
1. Beth Morgan / 17.9 / 1993-94
2. Shari Matvey / 17.6 / 1979-80
3. Alicia Ratay / 14.0 / 1999-00
4. Skylar Diggins / 13.8 / 2009-10
5. Brianna Turner / 13.78 / 2014-15
6. Jacqueline Batteast / 13.77 / 2001-02
7. Mary Beth Schueth / 13.0 / 1981-82
8. Courtney LaVere / 12.8 / 2002-03
9. Jewell Loyd / 12.5 / 2012-13
10. Carrie Bates / 12.4 / 1981-82
In addition, Peoples’ rebounding effort this year (8.1 rpg) would place her third all-time on the freshmen list, ranking behind Shari Matvey (10.2) and Mary Beth Schueth (9.1).
TRENDING: DESTINEE WALKER
Since the turn of the new decade, Walker has posted the 10th highest scoring average in the ACC with her 15.8 ppg.
Walker has posted six games in double figures over the last seven, which includes three of 20+ points. In fact, Walker leads the team with her four 20+ scoring games, which also ties her career best at UNC.
Ultimately, Walker is averaging 14.8 ppg in ACC play, which ranks 14th. Also, she’s converting 80.0 percent of her free throws in league play, which ranks 8th.
HEATING UP??
After suffering from a 1-of-15 stretch from three from Dec. 4-Jan. 2, Sam Brunelle is beginning to heat up from beyond the arc. Over the last four games, Brunelle has connected on 11-of-30 from deep, aka 36.7 percent.
TOP SCORING FRESHMEN IN THE ACC
Who is the top-scoring freshman in the ACC? Look no further than Notre Dame’s Sam Brunelle, who tops the league with her 13.1 ppg. Furthermore, Anaya Peoples follows right behind in second place with 12.6 ppg.
Nationally, Brunelle’s scoring average ranks 24th among true freshmen.
Brianna Turner, who remains the program’s lone ACC Rookie of the Year, averaged 13.8 ppg when she won it back in 2015.
WELCOME BACK VAUGHN
Vaughn suffered an ACL sprain in her right knee in the season opener and missed the next 11 games. The junior returned to the team for the start of ACC play, where she has provided a nice boost for the Irish.
She has been highly efficient from the field since returning, converting 59.6 percent from the floor, which ranks 3rd in ACC play. She has also been a beast on the offensive glass, reeling in at least five offensive rebounds in four of the last five games – her 3.8 offensive rebounds/game in ACC play leads the league.
Vaughn has posted three games with 15+ points, which included a career high of 18 at Duke on Jan. 16. She has also posted her first two career double-doubles, reeling in 11 boards both at Syracuse and Duke.
In ACC play only: 11th in rebounds (7.2), 3rd in FG% (.596), 13th in steals (1.8), 5th in blocks (1.8) and 1st in offensive rebounds (3.8).
FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION
Notre Dame women’s basketball has never seen the offensive output from two freshmen like this before – Peoples is averaging 12.6 ppg while Brunelle is at 13.1. There have only been only two other freshmen pairs in program history to finish the season with double-digit scoring averages:
— Arike Ogunbowale (11.4) and Marina Mabrey (10.7) in the 2015-16 season.
— Mary Beth Schueth (13.0) and Carrie Bates (12.4) were the first in the 1981-82 season.
Currently, Notre Dame, UTSA and Fresno State are the only three Division I programs with two true freshmen averaging over 12.5 points. UTSA is represented by Mikayla Woods (15.0) and Adryana Quezada (13.1), while Fresno State boasts the top pair with Hanna Cavinder (16.0) and Haley Cavinder (16.5).
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 20 charges this season, which breaks the record set by Kristina Nelson during the 2017-18 championship season.
On a completely different defensive note – Sniezek is averaging 2.2 steals/game, which ranks 2nd in the ACC. The Virginia native captured a career high six steals at Syracuse on Jan. 5.
SNIEZEK DIMES
Sniezek is averaging 5.9 assists/game which ranks 11th in the nation and 2nd in the ACC – only behind Virginia Tech’s Taja Cole (6.3). In addition, her 1.3 A/TO ratio ranks 14th in the league.
Sniezek boasts two double-digit assist performances, which ties UNC’s Shayla Bennett for the most in the league. Her 12-assist performance against No. 16 DePaul on Dec. 11, tied for the league high for an individual game.
In ACC play only, Sniezek is averaging 6.0 assists/game, which ranks 2nd.
STEALS AND DIMES COMBINED
Sniezek is 1-of-4 players in the country to average over 5.5 assists/game and 2.0 steals/game. The other three include: Texas Southern’s Ciani Cryor, St. Franic Brooklyn’s Nevena Dimitrijevic and DePaul’s Kelly Campbell.
— ND —