| 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 |
CHICAGO – The No. 20/18 Notre Dame women’s basketball team has a tall assignment before the holiday break – defending the No. 1 ranked offense in the country in (RV) DePaul on their home court. With a victory, the Fighting Irish (10-2) would not only exceed its win total from a season ago, but also earn their first NET top-50 win of the season. On the flip side, the Blue Demons (11-2) are riding a seven-game win streak in which they are averaging 99.9 ppg during said stretch. They are averaging 92.2 ppg on the year.
The matchup will air nationally on FS1, starting at 8:30 pm ET/7:30 pm CT. Tickets at Wintrust Arena are still available and can be purchased online.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 26-20, but trails in games in Chicago, 10-11.
FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION
Notre Dame doesn’t just have one, but two super freshmen who will be the building blocks for years to come.
A 6-1 versatile guard, Citron has been everywhere on the court for Coach Ivey, ranking in the top-4 on the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Not only is Citron making early waves for ACC Freshman of the Year but 6th Woman as well. She’s averaging an impressive 12.3 points off the bench – second most on the team. In addition, she is a four-time ACC Freshman of the Week winner already.
Citron is 1-of-3 freshman in the entire country averaging at least 12 points, five rebounds and two assists and one steal – she’s the only one from a Power-Five school. Breaking it down even further – there are only tw0 players in the entire country (of any class) who are putting up those numbers off the bench: Citron and NC State’s Diamond Johnson.
Lastly, Citron has been phenomenal from the charity stripe, shooting 91.4 percent, which leads all players in the ACC and ranks 15th in the nation. She is 32-for-35 on the year.
Then there’s Olivia Miles. She’s averaging double-digit points (12.0), leads the NATION in assists (7.8) and just so happens to reel in a team-best 7.0 boards/game as a point guard. Those numbers put Miles in an elite club as she and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark are the only two in the country averaging at least 10p/7r/7a.
She ranks in the top-10 in the ACC in five different stat categories: Rebounds, Assists, Steals, A/TO Ratio, Defensive Rebounds. Best of any Irish player.
Furthermore, Miles has collected five double-doubles, which are tied for the most in the ACC alongside Kitley of Virginia Tech and Ustby of UNC.
MORE ON MILES’ ASSIST NUMBERS
The top passer in the country is putting up assist numbers the program hasn’t seen in over three decades. Miles’ 7.8 apg would finish third all-time, with the top-three spots currently belonging to:
1. Mary Gavin 8.7 1987-88
2. Mary Gavin 7.9 1986-87
3. Lindsay Allen 7.6 2016-17
The most total assists in a season belong to Lindsay Allen at 282 (2016-17).
The highest assist average for a freshman at ND was 4.5 by Mary Gavin in 1984-85.
Miles boasts four double-digit assist performances on the year. All other players in the ACC have combined for one.
WHO’S HOT
There probably isn’t anyone else in the entire country who is having a better December than Olivia Miles. The freshman sensation is nearly averaging a triple-double over her last 5 games, averaging 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 9.0 assists. Her game performances include:
– an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double at MSU
– a near triple-double at UConn with eight points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
– her first career triple-double, recording 11 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists at Valpo.
– a 21 point, 11 assist double-double in which she also netted six rebounds and a career-high six steals.
December has also been very kind to Sonia Citron. Over her last five games, she’s averaging 16.8 ppg on 27-for-54 shooting (.500), including 9-of-20 from deep (.450). She’s also averaging 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists with just six turnovers in that span as well. Game performances include:
– career-high 29 points in the win at MSU, including 21 in the second half (13 in the 4th quarter).
– lone Irish player in double figures at UConn, finishing with 19 points.
– near double-double at Valpo with 9 points and 10 rebounds and a near double-double vs Pitt with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DELIGHTS
Look out for Olivia Miles who has become a double-double machine, earning three over the last five games to bring her season total to five. Her five just so happen to be tied for the lead in the ACC alongside Kitley of Virginia Tech and Ustby of UNC. Her five also rank second among all Division I freshmen, behind DePaul’s Aneesah Morrow (7).
Against Pitt on Dec. 19, Miles became the fourth Irish player ever to record a 20+ point, 10+ assist double-double – the other three were Skylar Diggins-Smith, Marina Mabrey and Jackie Young. Miles had 21 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and a career-high six steals.
Now, where do Miles’ five double-doubles stack up at ND:
– Most by a guard in her career – Jackie Young and Lindsay Schrader – 17
– Most by a freshman in a season – Shari Matvey – 15 – 1979-80
– Most in a season – 19 – Jess Shepard and Natalie Achonwa
SHARING THE WEALTH AND EXECUTING
The Irish currently have four players averaging double-figures, showcasing the depth of this year’s team. Notre Dame has done a great job spreading the wealth, leading the ACC and ranking 13th in the nation in assists/game (18.8). Notre Dame is also ranked 22nd in the nation in A/TO ratio (1.25), 20th in blocks/game (5.5) and 24th in rebounds/game (43.83).
— ND —