Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

GM 23 Preview: at Florida State

#20/19 Irish at Seminoles | Sunday, Feb. 6 | 2 pm ET | ACC Network | Donald L Tucker Center

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

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 20/19 Notre Dame women’s basketball team completed a huge four-game homestand sweep this past Thursday, but its gauntlet of games in a short timeframe isn’t done. The Fighting Irish (18-4, 9-2) will be competing in its fifth game in 11 days when they travel to Tallahassee to take on Florida State (10-10, 4-6). Tip inside the Donald L Tucker Center is set for 2 p.m. ET, airing live on the ACC Network.

The Irish have never lost to the Seminoles, boasting an 11-0 record in the all-time series with a 4-0 mark in Tallahassee. The last time these two met inside the Donald L Tucker Center, the Irish walked away with a 70-67 victory on March 1, 2020. Sam Brunelle went off for 25 points, which included a career high seven made three-pointers.

PROTECT THIS HOUSE

The Irish played a home game against Pitt on Dec. 19, not knowing that they would play only one more at home over the course of the next 5.5 weeks. At long last, the Irish returned to Purcell for a pivotal four-game homestand and they certainly delivered. Notre Dame knocked off Syracuse, Boston College, No. 3 NC State and (RV) Virginia Tech, improving to 11-0 at home this season– its best start since the 2017-18 national championship season (they went 15-0 at home). 

In terms of undefeated ACC teams at home, it’s just Notre Dame and Louisville (11-0). In terms of other P5’s: Michigan in the B1G, South Carolina in the SEC and Arizona in the Pac-12.

Now which Irish led the way during the four-game home sweep? Olivia Miles averaged an impressive 21.0 points on 50.8 shooting, plus 43.5 percent from three. She was also a perfect 12-for-12 from the line. Maya Dodson averaged 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds, while Sonia Citron averaged 10.5 points and 8.0 boards.

COACH IVEY’S FIRST SIGNATURE WIN

With a 69-66 win over No. 3 NC State on Feb. 1, Coach Ivey earned her first key signature win as a head coach and her first top-5 ranked victory. It also marked the program’s first top-5 win at home since No. 2 Louisville, 82-68. The last top-five team in general – UConn in the 2019 National Semifinal. 

Notre Dame earned its 24th ever win against a top-5 program, improving to 24-64 all-time.  Versus the top-10, the Irish are now 67-95.

It marked Coach Ivey’s third-ranked win on the season, previously knocking off Oregon State and North Carolina. 

More satisfactorily, the Irish earned the upset by battling the season narrative of fourth-quarter adversity. Notre Dame boasted a lead as large as 12 in the fourth before it dwindled to two, but fought on for the three-point win. 

IN THE NET + BRACKETOLOGY

In the updated NET rankings, ND jumped to No. 12, moving up four spots after five straight wins. It ranks as the 3rd best in the ACC behind No. 2 NC State and No. 4 Louisville.

Against the NET top-25, the Irish are 3-2. Against the top-50 they are 4-3 and against the top-100 they are 13-4. Thus no losses outside the NET top-100.

In the latest ESPN Bracketology report, the big win over No. 3 NC State launched the Irish into a top-4 seed and into hosting 1st and 2nd rounds conversation.

5 WEAPONS – ANY GIVEN DAY

The Irish currently have five players averaging double-figures, all between 14 and 10, really showcasing the depth of this year’s team. In terms of all Power-Five schools, only one other program can claim that they have five averaging double figures as well – Syracuse.

Notre Dame has done a great job spreading the wealth, leading the ACC and ranking 14th in the nation in assists/game (17.6). They have twice this season dished out 30+. 

DODSON PLAYING HER WAY INTO DPOTY CONVO

Her teammates might joke she’s the grandma of the team but the emphasis was on the first half of the word – Grand. Dodson was the MVP in the win over No. 3 NC State on Feb. 1 – recording a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, all while putting All-American Elissa Cunane in foul trouble for most of the game and at bay with just 13 points. 

Dodson got emotional in post-game presser, “I lead by example, so every time I go out there, every time I’m in front of these fans, I want to show how much passion and hard work and appreciation we have for them. Last year I wasn’t able to play. No matter how much I’m hurting, I got to go out there and play. This means so much for me.” 

Then two nights later, Dodson made one of the top-scorers in the ACC and a LIsa Leslie Award finalist, Elizabeth Kitley, a non-factor – holding her to 10 points under her season average. 

NANCY LIEBERMAN AWARD WATCH LIST?

To all Nancy Lieberman Award committee members – you probably should be paying attention to Olivia Miles. Notre Dame’s point guard ranks second in the NATION in assists per game as a FRESHMAN, averaging 7.4. However, Miles is more than just stylish assists and great vision, she’s a dynamic playmaker.

Miles leads the team in scoring (14.0), leads the team in steals (1.9) and just so happens to reel in 6.2 boards/game.

Miles and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark are the only players in the country averaging at least 14 points / 6 rebounds / 7 assists. She simply does it all.

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

In ACC play, Miles is shooting an impressive 49.3 percent (ranks 3rd) while averaging 15.2 ppg (ranks 4th).

CLEAN SWEEP

For the fifth time in program history, Notre Dame swept a conference’s player and freshman weekly honors. On Jan. 31, the ACC named Olivia Miles its Player of the Week and Sonia Citron its Freshman of the Week. It marked the second time ever Notre Dame swept the weekly honors in the ACC. In addition, Citron earned her fifth ACC freshman award this season, the most of any player thus far. 

Miles averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds to help lead Notre Dame to a 2-0 week. She narrowly missed tallying her second triple double of the season in last Thursday’s 83-62 victory against Syracuse. Miles scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists to chart her seventh double-double of the season, which is tied for the third most in the conference.

Meanwhile, Citron averaged 13.5 points and 8.0 rebounds to help Notre Dame improve to 16-4 overall and 7-2 in ACC play. Citron notched 13 points and pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds against Syracuse and scored 10 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter. Citron then logged her fifth straight double-digit scoring game against BC with 14 points and four rebounds.

5X ACC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

Guard Sonia Citron claimed ACC Freshman of the Week 4 times in the first 6 weeks of play, and now boasts 5 on the year, making her a contender for ACC 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.

30-PIECE -ELITE COMPANY

Olivia Miles took over the game vs Boston College on Jan. 30, pouring in a career high 30 points while dishing out six assists. She also hit a career high 4-for-8 from three.

Miles became the fifth different Irish freshman to score 30 or more points in a game, with Alicia Ratay holding the high mark of 32 set back on Dec. 4, 1999. The full list includes: Arike Ogunbowale (30 vs Central Michigan on 11/11/16), Skylar Diggins-Smith (31 vs Vermont on 3/23/10), Sam Brunelle (31 vs Depaul on 12/11/19) and Alicia Ratay (32 vs UNC on 12/4/99).

Miles became the fourth Irish player to record 30 points and five-plus assists in a single game, joining Diggins-Smith, Ogunbowale and Jewell Loyd. 

Furthermore, it marked the fourth time a freshman has posted a 30-point, five-plus assist performance in the ACC since ND joined in 2013 – list is now Miles, Elizabeth Balogun, Tiana Mangakahia and Lexie Brown.

ACC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR RACE

When it comes to Freshman-Only ACC rankings — Citron ranks 2nd in scoring (by a point), 1st in rebounding and 3rd in assists. No other freshman in the league ranks in the top-3 in all 3 categories. In fact, Citron has the highest PTS+REB+AST/Game of any ACC freshman. 

PTS+REB+AST/GAME Among ACC Freshman

1. Sonia Citron – 19.5

2. Shayeann Day-Wilson – 19.1

3. Maria Gakdeng – 15.6

FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION

Therefore, 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. 

ESPN Women’s Hoops put both Miles and Citron on their midseason top-10 freshman list. Miles was ranked No. 2, while Citron checked in at No. 6. Notre Dame was the only program with two freshmen on the list.  

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 2 freshmen averaging at least 11 ppg – Pacific – Anaya James and Elizabeth Elliot. 

A 6-1 versatile guard, Citron does it all for Coach Ivey and is arguably the toughest player on the team. She’s averaging an impressive 11.0 points while ranking 2nd on the team in rebounds (6.4), 3rd in assists (2.0) and 2nd in steals (1.5).

Sonia has become ND’s best rebounding guard with 6.4 boards/game. She’s reeling in 7.6 rebounds/game in ACC play, which ranks 8th in the league. Her 5.7 defensive boards/game in ACC play ranks 4th. 

Then there’s Olivia Miles, who has already been detailed above. Ultimately, Miles ranks in the top-15 in the ACC in 6 different stat categories: Scoring, FG%, Assists, Steals, A/TO Ratio and Defensive Rebounds. Best of any Irish player. 

ND’s 2 freshmen are its top two in Defensive-Rebounds/Game — Miles (5.6) & Citron (4.6). Both rank in the ACC in the top-10. The two are also the team’s top two steal getters as Miles averages 1.9 while Citron checks in with 1.5.

All-in-all, there are only 3 freshmen in the entire country averaging at least 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and 1 steal, and two belong to ND. The other is Harvard’s Harmoni Turner. 

DODSON FRESH OFF BEST STRETCH OF HER CAREER

Maya Dodson is showing up and showing off right now. The graduate student just ended the best scoring stretch of her collegiate career – 9 straight games in double figures, including four 20-point performances. She averaged 17.2 points in said stretch on 69-of-126 shooting (.548). 

Not only that, but she also posted 4 double-doubles over the the last 7 games, two of which have been 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles. 

SPARKPLUG SAMMIE B

Coach Ivey called Sam Brunelle her sparkplug after the Syracuse win on Jan. 27 and she’s certainly not wrong. Brunelle has recorded five double-digit scoring performances in the last eight games. 

Sam is averaging 10.6 ppg in ACC play, shooting a blistering 51.5 percent from the field. 

The Virginia native continues to be extremely efficient from two-point range, converting 35-of-54 (.648) from two over the last 11 games. Furthermore, she’s 60.7 percent from two on the season, which leads all Irish players. 

Sam had a gritty performance in win over No. 3 State, tallying eight points before taking a nasty bump in the 2nd quarter in which she hurt both her head and leg. She later came back in the 2nd half and still found a way to finish in double figures. 

Against Syracuse on Jan. 27, Sam produced 15 points, a season best 6 rebounds and tied her season highs in assists (3) and blocks (3). 

HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS

Kudos to Coach Ivey and her staff and their ability to stress certain halftime adjustments. The third quarter has been Notre Dame’s best all year, outscoring its opposition by over 100 points! The gap currently sits at 481-346. In points per quarter, it’s 21.9-15.7. 

— ND —