GM 3 Preview: Syracuse

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Indeed Irish fans, you read the schedule correctly, Notre Dame women’s basketball will be playing a conference game in November. The Irish (2-0), in just their third game of the season, will embark to New York to clash with Syracuse (1-0) inside the Carrier Dome. The matchup will air live on the ACC Network, with tip scheduled for Noon EST.

REVENGE OPPORTUNITY IN SYRACUSE

Notre Dame owns a 35-4 series advantage against Syracuse, with a 15-3 mark in the Carrier Dome. The Irish had won 21 straight in the series before dropping two straight in Syracuse. The Irish lost 74-63 in OT on 1/5/20, and then lost 81-69 on 1/31/21. In between those two games, the Irish edged out the Orange 72-70. 

The last contest, the Irish boasted a double-digit lead but didn’t close out down the stretch. Notre Dame built a lead as large as 15 while shooting over 57 percent in the first half. However, the Orange outscored the Irish 33-8 over the last 13 minutes of the game to rally for the 81-69 win. Notre Dame already avenged a loss from last season with the season-opening victory over Ohio.

The Nov. 14 contest between the two will be the earliest conference game in ND history.

OH MY, MAYA

How about a career-high 25 points for grad transfer Maya Dodson in her official Irish debut in Purcell Pavilion. Dodson blew by her previous high of 16 set at Stanford back in December of 2018. Dodson went off in the third quarter for 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting. She ultimately finished 11-of-16 for the game.

Dodson leads the team with 19.5 ppg. Coach Ivey relates Maya’s game to ND great Brianna Turner in the way she can run the floor and attack the rim.

A DOUBLE OF DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Two days after dishing out a career-high 11 assists, freshman Olivia Miles secured career highs in both points (16) and rebounds (11), securing her first double-double in the win over Western Illinois. In fact, she flirted with a triple-double, notching six assists.

However, she wasn’t the only one to record a double-double as Westbeld racked up 15 points and 18 rebounds, as the latter was a career high. It was the first time two Irish had double-doubles in the same game since Jessica Shepard and Brianna Turner in the 2019 NCAA championship game vs Baylor. 

WESTBELD TIES PURCELL RECORD

When Westbeld reeled in her career high 18 rebounds against Western Illinois, it tied the Purcell Pavilion single-game rebounding record. Said record has been achieved six times prior, most previously from Devereaux Peters vs USF on Feb. 25, 2012.

For those wondering, the all-time record is 22 set by Jane Politiski vs Goshen on Feb. 13, 1978.

FRESHMEN MAKE IMPACTFUL DEBUTS

Sonia Citron joined a prestigious list of ND freshman who scored in double figures in their freshman debut. The list includes names such as Skylar Diggins-Smith, Lindsay Allen, Brianna Turner and Marina Mabrey. Fellow teammates Sam Brunelle and Anaya Peoples accomplished the feat as well. 

Citron not only scored 13 points in her debut but notched a Stat-Sheet-Stuffer (at least 5-5-5) as well. Citron led the team in rebounds with 7 and also dished out 6 assists. She recorded the 2nd most minutes in the game with 30. 

Her fellow freshman Olivia Miles made the most of her 21 minutes, dishing out a career high 11 assists. She becomes the first ever Irish rookie to notch double-digit assists in her debut. 

BENCH POWER

When the final buzzer sounded vs Ohio, the Irish accumulated a total of 44 bench points. That marked the most in the Ivey Era and the most since at least the 2016-17 season (will need to do more research).

Citron was a major bench contributor, but the biggest one was Sam Brunelle. The junior recorded 20 points in just 17 minutes of play. She shot an efficient 8-of-10 from the field, including an impressive 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. 

DROPPIN’ DIMES LIKE ITS 2013

In the win over Ohio, the Irish accomplished 31 assists on 41 made baskets. The 31 assists were the most since the Irish dished out 31 and defeated UCLA back on Dec. 7, 2013. All-in-all, it was only the fourth 30+ assist team performance since that UCLA game. 

FRESHMAN STARTING AT POINT GUARD

Olivia Miles became the first freshman to start at point guard for the season opener since Lindsay Allen in 2013. 

Back in 2013,  it was the first time a Fighting Irish rookie point guard started the season opener since Nov. 26, 1994, when Mollie Peirick cracked the lineup and played 38 minutes (two points, five rebounds, three assists) in a 65-60 overtime loss at No. 25 Seton Hall. 

REMEMBER, REMEMBER, THE WINS OF NOVEMBER

Over the past decade, the Irish have found tremendous success in the month of November. In fact, the Irish have gone an impressive 57-6 over the opening month of play.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES

After earning First Team All-ACC honors a season ago and the Coaches nod for Rookie of the Year, Maddy Westbeld was named Preseason All-ACC for the 2021-22 season. In addition, Westbeld was recently named to the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List as well.

The youth movement was on full display with Westbeld the sophomore and Notre Dame’s two freshmen making the ACC Newcomer Watch List. 

When it came to the Naismith position awards, junior Sam Brunelle made the Katrina McClain Watch List for the second consecutive year. The award recognizes the best power forwards in the country. 

MILESTONE UNLOCKED: 700

When it comes to the Mabrey family, that’s a whole lot of buckets. Queens of three some might say. Marina graduated in 2019 as the program’s all-time career made three-pointer leader, draining a total of 274. Michaela converted a career total of 228, while Dara now boasts 198. 

And with Dara’s third trey vs Ohio on Nov. 9, it was career three-pointer No. 700 for the Mabrey sisters. They currently sit at 701.

Points wise, the trio has combined for over 3,000 points, currently sitting at 3,068. 

— ND —