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Game 19 Preview: No. 6/5 Louisville

Irish host Top-10 Cardinals on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN

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 | Louisville Notes

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – In a season unlike any other, it already comes down to just one more regular-season contest on Sunday, Feb. 28. With NCAA Tournament aspirations, the Notre Dame women’s basketball team (10-8, 8-6) has a giant opportunity when they host the Louisville Cardinals (20-2, 13-2) inside Purcell Pavilion. Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST on ESPN.

SHOES FOR CHANGE

Sunday vs. Louisville, the Irish will be using their voice to speak up about social injustice. Their platform – their shoes and their warm-up shirt. Please check out the full feature on the ‘Shoes for Change.’ Below is a brief summary.

The program was both inspired by the local art downtown, plus a desire to help serve and give back to the community they love. Notre Dame then came across local artist Kamika Perry, who has lived in the community for over 10 years. Coach Ivey shared her beliefs and program values, and from there, Kamika took those concepts to a blank canvas.

Kamika hand-painted over 17 pairs of shoes for the team. The right shoe — a protest fist in the shape of a heart. The left shoe — a peaceful protest where each player got to express their individuality on social justice with a word choice. The shooting shirt – the hopeful young girl – representing that what the team does now can influence the next generation. Hope for a better tomorrow. The quote on the back of the shirt states, “We Hope, We Inspire, We Believe.”

LAST TIME WITH LOUISVILLE

The Irish rallied down 11 points in the fourth quarter and had a chance to take the lead after a Maddy Westbeld steal and fast-break pull-up jumper, but the freshman’s shot fell short, as the Cardinals pushed ahead for the 71-65 victory.

All seven Notre Dame players who registered points scored eight or more in a very balanced attack. Four players all led with a team-high 10 points, including Olivia Miles. Sam Brunelle nearly had a double-double with 10 points and a season-high nine rebounds. The other two in double figures were Mikki Vaughn and Maddy Westbeld – both of whom reeled in eight boards.

Louisville’s Dana Evans was a huge difference-maker in the game, carrying the squad with 27 points on 9-of-21 shooting.

WHY MADDY DESERVES ACC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Maddy Westbeld has the most complete game among ACC rookies this season and here are the stats to back it up:

• She leads all ACC rookies in scoring with her 15.2 ppg. Diving deeper into ACC Freshmen stats only, she ranks 1st in Scoring, 2nd in Rebounding, 3rd in Steals, 4th in Blocks & 3rd in Assists. She is the only freshman in the league to rank in the top-four in all the above-mentioned categories.
• Maddy is the only freshman in the country averaging at least 15 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists & 1.4 steals. In fact, there are only six Division-I players achieving this feat.
• Ranks 4th in the country among freshmen in the Points+Rebounds+Assists/Game category with 25.7. Tops ACC freshmen.
• Her scoring average ranks 9th overall in the league and 11th among all Division I freshmen.
• Riding a career-high eight-game double-digit scoring streak.
• Two straight double-doubles and boasts three overall on the year.

6TH WOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

The stats don’t lie, Destinee is the fourth highest scoring sub in the entire country right now, averaging 12.1 ppg. When looking at the ACC, the next best sixth player is Syracuse’s Emily Engstler, who averages 9.8 ppg.

It’s not too often you have a 2020 ACC Honorable Mention player coming off your bench. Over the last 12 games in particular, Destinee has thrived, scoring in double figures in eight of them, and even leading the Irish in scoring in three.

Destinee has surged in this last week of the regular season, compiling 22 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and seven assists.

RECORD CHASING

Speaking of Destinee, she has been absolutely dominant at the free-throw line this season. She ranks 2nd in the ACC and 12th in the country, converting 89.8 percent of her attempts, aka 53-of-59. She just had a streak of 27 straight made free throws break at the Florida State game on Feb. 25.

Destinee has a solid chance at becoming the new top ND single-season free-throw shooter. The record is currently held by Kayla McBride, who shot 90.0 percent (90-of-100) in the 2012-13 season (minimum of 2.0 made per game).

HERE COME THE IRISH — OLIVIA MILES

Miles will be riding a three-game double-digit scoring streak heading into Louisville, in which she’s shot 15-of-25 (.600) in said span. The freshman is coming off a season-high performance in both points (11) and rebounds (8) against Florida State.

Miles made up one-half of Coach Ivey’s top-five nationally ranked recruiting class that also featured guard Sonia Citron. Miles was ranked the No. 8 prospect overall by ESPN and the No. 2 point guard.

WHO’S HOT

Joining Miles in the hot-hand department is the team’s scoring leader Maddy Westbeld. Since returning from the team’s Covid Pause, Westbeld has posted two straight double-doubles, totaling 37 points and 23 rebounds. In the win over FSU, she led the team in points, rebounds and assists. She’s riding a career-high eight-game double-digit scoring streak heading into Louisville.

Before the break in games, Sam Brunelle was starting to hit a stride. The sophomore posted three straight games in double figures, totaling 39 points, 13 assists and 21 rebounds. Thus, she averaged 13.0 points, 4.3 assists and 7.0 rebounds. She almost made it four straight games but came up just shy with eight points vs. Florida State. Furthermore, her 21 rebounds over the last 3 games are more than the previous 9 games combined. 

Perhaps the squad as a whole is hitting its stride at the right time. Notre Dame held Pitt to a season-low point total on Monday, as the defense flexed its most impressive performance of the season. Then on Thursday vs. Florida State, the Irish had five players in double figures for the first time this season.

BRACKETOLOGY REPORT

“Great moments are born from great opportunity.”

With the big win over Florida State on Thursday, ESPN’s Charlie Creme moved the Irish from First Four Out to Last Team In. On Sunday, the Irish have a great opportunity to notch a top-line item on their resume against the No. 6/5 Louisville Cardinals.

The Irish boast a NET ranking of 51. Notre Dame is 5-5 this season against Top-50 NET opponents.

— ND —