| GAME 32 | NO. 11 MISSISSIPPI STATE AT NO. 3 NOTRE DAME |
|---|---|
| WHEN: | SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | 3:30 PM ET |
| WHERE: | SOUTH BEND, IN | PURCELL PAVILION |
| WATCH: | ESPN |
| LISTEN: | NOTRE DAME RADIO NETWORK | CLICK HERE |
| NOTES: | ND NOTES |
| SOCIAL: | @NDWBB | #GOIRISH |
| TICKETS: | BUY TICKETS |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — On Sunday, third-seeded Notre Dame (26-5) will face 11th-seeded Mississippi State (22-10) for just the second time in program history. Irish fans know that first meeting well.
The inaugural time Notre Dame saw the Bulldogs, the program walked away with a 61-58 win and the school’s second national title thanks to a buzzer-beating Arike Ogunbowale 3-pointer. The shot still appears regularly on ESPN, and one can bet it will be heavily featured in tomorrow’s broadcast.
Turning to the current state of affairs, the Irish are seeking their second-straight appearance in the Sweet 16 and the storied program’s 19th ever. They’ll have to go for that goal without two starters — Dara Mabrey and Olivia Miles — who are both done for the year with knee injuries. The Bulldogs — who were a First Four team — are coming off of a pair of Tournament wins and playing some of their best basketball of the year. These are two teams with a lot to prove.
“I think it’s exciting,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey said on Saturday. “They’re playing with a chip on their shoulder. We’re playing with a chip on our shoulder. It’s going to be an incredible athletic matchup. They have great size, great guards. It’s going to be a fast-paced game.”
The Bulldogs are led by center Jessika Carter. The 6-5 Georgia native is a member of this year’s All-SEC Second Team and made the All-SEC Defensive Team. She averages 15 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Carter had 22 points on 10 baskets in the First Four against Illinois, and she posted a 14 and 10 double-double on Friday against Creighton.
As far as guards go, the Bulldogs share the love. They have five guards posting at least 8 points per game, and three of them — JerKaila Jordan, Ahlana Smith and Asianae Johnson — have a success rate greater than 40 percent from deep. Sophomore guard Alasia Hayes is a Notre Dame transfer, having played for the Irish during the 2020-21 season before heading to Starkville. She gets 7.6 minutes per game and puts up 1.6 points each contest.
Notre Dame got off to a hot start in its first NCAA Tournament game, an 82-56 drubbing of No. 14 seed Southern Utah. Four players posted double-figure points, and Maddy Westbeld had her third 20-point game of the year. Lauren Ebo and Cassandre Prosper each had 10 rebounds, and the occasion marked the first time Prosper had 10 boards.
One thing is for certain: Sunday will be Notre Dame’s final game of the year at Purcell Pavilion. Ivey has expressed extreme gratitude for the Irish faithful who have come out all year, even grabbing the microphone postgame following wins over Connecticut and Louisville. She piled on when asked about it on Saturday.
“Thank you,” Ivey said without hesitation. “The energy they brought this season was phenomenal. [Friday’s win over Southern Utah] was exactly what I’ve dreamed about. It was all green. Their faces, energy, they were so excited. They cheered from the beginning to the end, and I’m so grateful for that support.”
Sunday’s contest will air on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET.