Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

GM 15 Preview: At Wake Forest

Irish back in action on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 7 pm ET

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

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – With just two games played in the last three weeks, the No. 20/19 Notre Dame women’s basketball team (11-3, 2-1) is more than eager to get back onto the court this week, starting with Wake Forest (12-4, 2-3) on Thursday, Jan. 13. Tip inside LJVM Coliseum is set for 7 pm ET, streaming live on ACCNX. The Irish look to get back to its winning ways as well, coming off a tight 72-70 defeat at then No. 15 Duke on Jan. 2.

The Irish have never lost to the Demon Deacons, boasting a 9-0 advantage in the all-time series. Last year, Notre Dame edged Wake in a 79-72 battle inside Purcell Pavilion.

NANCY LIEBERMAN AWARD WATCH LIST?

To all Nancy Lieberman Award committee members – you probably should be paying attention to someone who wasn’t on your preseason watch list – introducing Olivia Miles. Notre Dame’s freshman point guard leads the ENTIRE NATION in assists per game, averaging 7.5. However, Miles is more than just stylish assists. She is also averaging double-digit points (12.6) and reeling in 6.9 boards/game – second best on the team behind Maya Dodson. 

Thus, Miles is the only player in the country averaging at least 12 points / 6 rebounds / 7 assists.

And by the way, she’s piling up double-doubles, already earning five on the year, which ranks 4th in the ACC and ranks 2nd among all Division I freshmen. And of those five, one of them is a triple-double, as Miles became just the 2nd Irish freshman in program history to do so. 

MORE ON MILES’ ASSIST NUMBERS

The top passer in the country is putting up assist numbers the program has rarely seen. Miles’ 7.5 apg would finish fourth 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. 

ACC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK X4

Guard Sonia Citron claimed ACC Freshman of the Week 4 times in the first 6 weeks of play, making her the early favorite for Freshman of the Year. Citron looks to challenge 2019 alumna Brianna Turner who set the program record with six ACC FOTW honors. Going back into the program’s Big East days, both Jacqueline Batteast (01-02) and Alicia Ratay (99-00) were each six-time winners as well.

FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION

Notre Dame doesn’t just have one, but two super freshmen in Citron and Miles who will be the building blocks for years to come. In fact, Notre Dame is the only Power-Five school with two freshmen averaging double figures. Furthermore, there’s only one other school in Division I with two freshmen averaging at least 11 ppg – Pacific – Anaya James and Elizabeth Elliot. 

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 11.7 points off the bench – third most on the team. 

Furthermore, there are only two players in the entire country (of any class) who are putting up those numbers off the bench: Citron and NC State’s Diamond Johnson (12.8p / 5.2r / 2.6a / 1.8s)

In addition, there are only three freshmen in the entire country averaging at least 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists and 1 steal, and two belong to ND. The other is Arkansas State’s Lauryn Pendleton.  

Then there’s Olivia Miles, who has already been detailed above. Ultimately, Miles ranks in the top-15 in the ACC in a whopping seven different stat categories: Rebounds, Assists, Steals, FG%, A/TO Ratio, Defensive Rebounds and Minutes — best of any Irish player.

Lastly, these two are just offensive threats, they also lead the team defensively with the top-two steal averages. Miles leads all Irish with 1.9/game which also ranks in the top-10 in the ACC. Citron follows right behind with 1.7/game.

A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER

When looking at December games only – Citron led the team in scoring with 14.3 ppg, shooting 47.5 percent, including 42.9 percent from three. She also only missed one free throw, converting 21-of-22. Plus, she averaged 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists as well, with only nine turnovers in those six combined games. 

Amongst all D-I freshmen in scoring in December – her 14.3 ppg ranked 6th. 

And of course there’s Miles. In December games only, she nearly averaged a triple-double with 13.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.8 assists. Her 13.8 ppg ranked 9th among all Division I freshmen for the month of December. 

WHO’S HOT

Miles — Double-digit points in five straight games, including two 20-point performances in the last three. She’s 22-of-43 (.512) from the floor over said three games. 

Citron — Scored in double figures in five of the last seven games.

However, there probably isn’t a hotter player than Maya Dodson, who has recorded back-to-back 20-point performances for the first time of her career.

Dodson scored a career-high 28 points, including 12 in the 4th quarter at (RV) DePaul on Dec. 22, resulting in her being named ACC Player of the Week. In fact, she scored 10 straight points from 4:46-0:26 in the 4th, helping lift the Irish to a 91-86 road win.

 Lastly, there’s Westbeld, who boasts two 20-point performances over the last five games. During the five-game span, she’s shot 27-of-43 (.628) from the field.

SHARING THE WEALTH AND EXECUTING

Notre Dame has done a great job spreading the wealth, leading the ACC and ranking 12th in the nation in assists/game (18.6). They have twice this season dished out 30+. 

Notre Dame is also ranked 21st in the nation in A/TO ratio (1.21), 25th in blocks/game (5.2), 22nd in rebounds/game (43.63) and 26th in scoring offense (77.6).

— ND —