Irish Play Host To No. 4 Connecticut Tuesday Night

Jan. 12, 2004

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-6, 1-1)
vs. (#4 AP/#4 ESPN/USA Today) Connecticut Huskies (11-1, 2-0)

The Date and Time: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004, at 7 p.m. ET.
The Site: Joyce Center (11,418) in Notre Dame, Ind.
The Tickets: Still available by calling the Notre Dame Athletics Ticket Office (574-631-7356).
The TV Plans: Connecticut Public Television (CPTV)/College Sports Television (CSTV) live broadcast with Jeff Jeffers (play-by-play), former Irish standout Sara Liebscher (analysis) and Andy Greathouse (producer/director). CSTV is available nationwide to DirecTV subscribers on Channel 610.
The Radio Plans: All Notre Dame games are broadcast live on WDND-AM (ESPN Radio 1620) and/or WNDV-AM (1490) in South Bend with Sean Stires (play-by-play). These broadcasts also are available through the Notre Dame athletics web site at www.und.com.
Real-Time Statistics: Live in-game statistics are available for the Connecticut game through the Notre Dame (www.und.com) athletics web site.
Web Sites: Notre Dame (www.und.com), Connecticut (www.uconnhuskies.com).

Notre Dame will take on its second consecutive ranked opponent Tuesday night when the Irish welcome fourth-ranked Connecticut to the Joyce Center for a 7 p.m. (ET) contest. It will be the only matchup this season between the two BIG EAST rivals.

Notre Dame (8-6, 1-1 BIG EAST) is coming off an impressive 53-40 win over No. 16/15 Virginia Tech on Saturday at the Joyce Center. The Irish trailed by four points at halftime, but rolled over the Hokies in the final 20 minutes, outscoring them 37-20 and not allowing the visitors to grab a single offensive rebound in that stretch.

Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast picked up her fourth double-double in the victory, notching game highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds. She also tallied her 1,000th career point, becoming the 20th player in school history to reach that milestone. Junior center Teresa Borton also chipped in 14 points for the Irish.

Connecticut (11-1, 2-0) is coming off a 69-51 win over Georgetown at home on Saturday. Senior guard/forward Diana Taurasi scored a game-high 21 points, while senior guard Maria Conlon had 12 points and freshman center Liz Sherwood tossed in a season-high 11 points for the Huskies.

UConn holds a 15-2 lead in the all-time series with Notre Dame, having won the last three times the teams have squared off. The Huskies also own a 4-1 edge in the series at the Joyce Center.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE FIGHTING IRISH
Coming into this season, one of the bigger question marks surrounding Notre Dame was its perimeter play. The Irish figured to count on their post offense in the early part of the year while their outside shooting developed to fill in the void left by the graduation of Alicia Ratay. Yet, during the first two months of the season, the Notre Dame backcourt has sparkled with regularity while the Irish post game has had to work out some of the off-season kinks.

• Sophomore Megan Duffy (12.8 ppg., team-high 4.57 apg., .467 3FG%, .854 FT%) is in her first season as the everyday point guard for the Irish and she is proving to be a key cog in the Notre Dame offensive arsenal. After averaging only three points and 2.3 assists per game last year, the Dayton, Ohio, native has more than quadrupled her scoring output and she owns a team-best 1.49 assist/turnover ratio (10th in the BIG EAST). In addition, she is showing offensive diversity, knocking down 28 of 60 three-pointers this season to rank second in the BIG EAST and 11th in the nation (NCAA rank as of Jan. 5). She also has eight double-figure scoring games to her credit this year, including a career-high 25 points vs. Wisconsin on Dec. 4, and 22 points at Georgetown on Jan. 7. Her ball handling skills have not diminished, as she also has registered seven games with five-or-more assists, including a career-high nine assists on Dec. 7 at Washington.
• Senior captain Le’Tania Severe (8.4 ppg., 3.1 apg., .462 FG%, .786 FT%) has slid over to the shooting guard position in place of Ratay and has filled in admirably thus far. While not putting up the three-point numbers Ratay had in her remarkable career, Severe is getting her points as a slasher, driving to the basket and creating havoc for opposing defenses. She also is tied for the team lead with 1.57 steals per game and has been a vital piece of Notre Dame’s transition game. She collected 14 points in the loss to Colorado, earning a spot on the WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team, before adding 13 points at third-ranked Tennessee and Colorado State, and 12 points vs. USC. She then poured in a season-high 15 points to tie for team-high honors at Purdue.
• Senior guard Jeneka Joyce (4.6 ppg., .459 3FG%) also has been a pleasant surprise this season. After missing more than 20 months with recurring leg injuries, Joyce returned to action Nov. 21 vs. Valparaiso and promptly drained all three of her three-point attempts. She then knocked down three more treys to begin the Michigan State game and now ranks fifth on the school’s career charts in three-point percentage (.389).
• Junior forward and preseason All-American Jacqueline Batteast (15.0 ppg., 7.9 rpg., four double-doubles) has lived up to her accolades this season, ranking among the BIG EAST leaders in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots (1.21 bpg.). She was named to the WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team on Nov. 15 after a superb weekend that included a career-high 27 points against 22nd-ranked Auburn. She then piled up back-to-back double-doubles vs. No. 20 Colorado (13p, 10r) and Valparaiso (15p, 10r) before logging team bests of 16 points and seven caroms at No. 3 Tennessee, 19 points at Washington and a game-high 13 points with six assists vs. Dayton. She then chalked up her third double-double vs. USC (20p, 13r) to earn the first BIG EAST Player of the Week honor of her career. On Saturday against Virginia Tech, she collected her fourth double-double with game highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds. She now has 58 career double-figure scoring games and 23 career double-doubles. Also in the Virginia Tech game, she became the 20th Notre Dame player to score 1,000 career points and was the fourth-fastest ever to reach that milestone, hitting the mark in just 72 games.
• Junior center Teresa Borton (7.6 ppg., 4.9 rpg., .519 FG%, .857 FT%) and sophomore forward Courtney LaVere (8.1 ppg., 5.4 rpg.) also have made important contributions at times this season. Borton has recovered well from off-season heel surgery, averaging 10.7 ppg. and 6.3 rpg. with a .650 FG% during Notre Dame’s last six games. She was at her best last week vs. Colorado State and Marquette, ringing up 14 points on both occasions. Borton then added 11 points and eight rebounds at Georgetown, followed by 14 points and six boards against Virginia Tech. In fact, after not scoring in double figures once in her first six games, Borton has had 10 or more points six times in her last eight outings. Meanwhile, LaVere, a freshman All-American last year, has had an up-and-down second season. She tied Batteast for team-high scoring honors with 12 points at Michigan State before rising up and carding season highs of 22 points and nine rebounds vs. Wisconsin. It took nearly a month, but she once again cracked double figures on New Year’s Day against Marquette, tossing in 16 points on six of 11 shooting. She also logged her 500th career point in the win over the Golden Eagles.

A QUICK LOOK AT CONNECTICUT
The bull’s-eye is squarely on Connecticut’s back this season after the Huskies won their second consecutive national championship and third in the last four years in 2002-03. Yet, head coach Geno Auriemma and his charges wouldn’t want it any other way. Connecticut has posted some impressive records in the last two seasons, including an NCAA-record 70-game winning streak and an NCAA-record-tying 69-game home winning streak.

The Huskies (11-1, 2-0 BIG EAST) once again are in position to defend their title in March. UConn reeled off nine consecutive wins to begin the season and cemented its place atop the national rankings, breaking Tennessee’s record for the most consecutive weeks at No. 1. However, the Huskies were toppled from their lofty perch on Jan. 4, when Duke pulled out a 68-67 buzzer-beating win in Hartford. Connecticut has since regrouped to start BIG EAST play with wins over West Virgnia (82-57) and Georgetown (69-51), although the Huskies did trail at the half in the latter contest.

As usual, UConn is led by the reigning National Player of the Year, senior guard/forward Diana Taurasi. The Chino, Calif., native is averaging 19.8 points and 4.9 assists per game with a .531 field goal percentage and a.431 three-point ratio. Yet, she is only one of four Huskies scoring in double figures this year. Sophomore guard Barbara Turner is second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg.) and rebounding (5.3 rpg.), while also boasting a .552 field goal percentage. Sophomore guard Ann Strother is third in scoring (11.3 ppg.) and three-point percentage (.380), while junior center Jessica Moore is fourth in scoring (10.2 ppg.) and tops in rebounding (6.5 rpg.) and field goal percentage (.607).

Auriemma is in his 19th season at Connecticut with a 512-100 (.837) career record. He is 15-2 all-time against Notre Dame.

THE NOTRE DAME-CONNECTICUT SERIES
Connecticut holds a 15-2 series lead over Notre Dame, including a 4-1 edge when the scene shifts to the Joyce Center. However, the series has been a bit tighter of late with the Huskies winning four of the last six. The series was decidedly one-sided prior to the 2000-01 season when the Irish won two of three meetings with their BIG EAST Conference rivals, including a 90-75 win in the 2001 NCAA Final Four. UConn has since won the last three matchups in the series, including both contests last season (see recaps in next note).

Among current Notre Dame players, sophomore forward Courtney LaVere has had the most success against the Huskies, averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks with a .526 field goal percentage in two career games vs. Connecticut. A complete rundown of the statistics current Irish players have compiled against the Huskies can be found on page 17 of this notes package.

THE LAST TIME NOTRE DAME AND CONNECTICUT MET
Connecticut completed a season sweep of Notre Dame with a 77-59 win over the Irish on Feb. 23, 2003, at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. After falling behind by eight points to start the game, Notre Dame rallied and pulled even at 28-28 with just over a minute left in the first half. However, UConn scored the final five points of the period, igniting an 18-2 run that fueled the Huskies’ victory.

Center Teresa Borton scored a career-high 21 points to lead four Notre Dame players in double figures. She also became the sixth different Irish player to score 20 points in a game last season, making Notre Dame one of only two schools in the nation to achieve that feat. Jacqueline Batteast added a career-high 18 rebounds, the most by an Irish player since 1998.

THE LAST TIME NOTRE DAME AND CONNECTICUT MET AT THE JOYCE CENTER
The Irish and Huskies met twice last season, with Connecticut winning the first matchup, 72-53 on Jan. 20, 2003, at the Joyce Center. In that game, Notre Dame led by a point midway through the first half, but UConn closed the period on a 32-12 run to seize control. The Irish did play the Huskies evenly in the second half, but could not dent the Connecticut advantage. Barbara Turner had a career-high 25 points and Ann Strother added 15 points for the Huskies, who shot an Irish opponent season-high 49.1 percent from the floor. Jacqueline Batteast pitched in 16 points and Courtney LaVere contributed 12 points for Notre Dame.

OTHER NOTRE DAME-CONNECTICUT SERIES TIDBITS

• Connecticut is one of only two BIG EAST Conference opponent to hold a series edge over Notre Dame, leading the series with the Irish, 15-2. The other league foe with a winning record against Notre Dame is Rutgers, which owns a slim 9-8 series lead over the Irish.
• The first meeting between Notre Dame and Connecticut in 2001 (a 92-76 Irish win on Jan. 15) was the scene of the first-ever sellout in Irish women’s basketball history, as 11,418 fans packed the Joyce Center to witness the historic victory.
• The Irish and Huskies have won the last four NCAA championships, making the BIG EAST the only conference to win the national title in four consecutive seasons. The BIG EAST also is the only league to have two different teams win the NCAA championship in consecutive seasons (Connecticut in 2000, 2002 and 2003; Notre Dame in 2001).
• Either Notre Dame or Connecticut has appeared in six of the last eight Final Fours, with both teams reaching college basketball’s biggest stage in 2001.

NOTRE DAME-CONNECTICUT CONNECTIONS

• Tuesday’s game will mark a reunion of sorts for four of the participants who all played at Highlands Ranch (Colo.) High School and for the AAU powerhouse Colorado Hoopsters. Notre Dame junior forward Katy Flecky and freshman guard Susie Powers, along with Connecticut sophomore guard Ann Strother and freshman center Liz Sherwood all plied their trade under head coach Caryn Jarocki at Highlands Ranch, which won three straight Class 5A state championships from 2000-02. Flecky and Strother also earned Colorado Miss Basketball honors during their careers. In addition, the duo were instrumental in the Colorado Hoopsters’ 2000 AAU national title.
• A handful of California natives will suit up for Tuesday’s game. Notre Dame sophomore forward Courtney LaVere is from Ventura (Buena HS), while Irish freshman forward Crystal Erwin is from Rancho Cucamonga (St. Paul HS). On the other side of the court, Connecticut senior guard/forward Diana Taurasi is a Chino native (Don Lugo HS), and Husky sophomore forward Willnett Crockett is from Harbor City (Narbonne HS).
• Two of the premier coaches in the country will square off Tuesday night when Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw meets up with Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma. The pair have combined for an outstanding 971-285(.773) record during their 41 seasons on the sidelines. McGraw and Auriemma also have guided 25 teams to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Final Four nine times with five national championship to their credit. In an interesting twist, McGraw and Auriemma were hired only one day and two years apart at their respective schools — Auriemma took the Connecticut job on May 17, 1985, while McGraw arrived at Notre Dame on May 18, 1987.
• Both head coaches are products of the vaunted “Cradle of Coaches” in Philadelphia. Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw, a native of Pottsville, Pa., graduated from Saint Joseph’s, served as an assistant at SJU under current Ohio State skipper Jim Foster from 1980-82, and later became head coach at Lehigh before moving on to lead the Irish. Meanwhile, Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma grew up in Norristown, Pa., and graduated from West Chester University. He began his coaching career as an assistant under Foster at Saint Joseph’s in 1978, the year after McGraw graduated, before spending three years as the head boys’ coach at Bishop Kenrick (Pa.) High School. Some of the other coaching legends to come out of the Philadelphia area include Illinois’ Theresa Grentz, Villanova’s Harry Perretta, Penn State’s Rene Portland and former Old Dominion mentor Marianne Stanley, who now coaches the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

THE BEASTS OF THE BIG EAST
Notre Dame is 113-25 (.819) in regular-season competition against the rest of BIG EAST Conference, owning the best conference winning percentage of any current member of the BIG EAST since joining the circuit for the 1995-96 campaign. The Irish also have won 69 of their last 84 regular-season conference games (.821), and claimed a share of their first-ever BIG EAST regular-season championship in 2001. When including postseason competition (BIG EAST and NCAA tournaments), Notre Dame is 125-33 (.791) against league opponents — when factoring in these 20 postseason tilts, the Irish are 62-7 (.899) at home, 51-21 (.708) on the road and 12-5 (.706) at neutral sites all-time against BIG EAST foes.

ON THIS DATE…
The Irish have played six times on Jan. 13 in their 27-year history, logging a 5-1 record on this date, including a 3-0 mark at home. Notre Dame last played on Jan. 13 in 2001, dealing Virginia Tech a 75-55 defeat at the Joyce Center.

In an interesting side note, the only time the Irish have lost on this date was in 1987 at Northern Illinois when the Huskies claimed an 81-71 victory. One of the NIU tri-captains that year was a sophomore forward named Carol Owens, who injured her knee in the season opener and ended up redshirting that campaign. These days, Owens walks the sidelines as an assistant coach at Notre Dame, now in the midst of her ninth season working with the Irish posts and her second as associate coach.

IF NOTRE DAME WINS …

• Notre Dame will pick up its first win over a Top 5 opponent since March 30, 2001, when the Irish defeated top-ranked Connecticut, 90-75 at the NCAA Final Four in St. Louis.
• The Irish will earn their second consecutive win over a ranked opponent and their third victory against a Top 25 club this year. Notre Dame already has defeated No. 22 Auburn and No. 16 Virginia Tech.
• Notre Dame will snap a three-game series losing streak to Connecticut and register its third career victory over the Huskies. All three wins will have come in the last seven matchups.
• The Irish will improve to 114-25 (.820) all-time in regular-season games against the BIG EAST Conference, maintaining the best winning percentage in conference history.
• Notre Dame will extend its home winning streak to 12 games and rise to 63-7 (.900) all-time against BIG EAST opponents at the Joyce Center.
• Head coach Muffet McGraw will see her record at Notre Dame rise to 372-144 (.721) in 17 seasons under the Golden Dome. She also will watch her career ledger improve to 460-185 (.713) in 22 years at the college level.
• The Irish will raise their all-time record to 536-243 (.688) in 27 seasons of varsity competition.

RECAPPING THE VIRGINIA TECH GAME
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast collected her fourth double-double of the season with game highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds, while junior center Teresa Borton added a season-best 14 points and Notre Dame dominated inside, beating No. 16 Virginia Tech 53-40 on Saturday afternoon at the Joyce Center.

The Hokies (12-2, 1-2 BIG EAST) shot just 33.3 percent, their second-worst shooting game of the season, and lost their second straight after opening with 12 straight victories. Meanwhile, Notre Dame (8-6, 1-1) beat a ranked team for the first time since its season-opening victory over then-No. 22 Auburn at the WBCA Classic in Boulder, Colo.

The Irish outscored the Hokies 32-20 inside and outrebounded Virginia Tech 41-31, including 22-9 in the second half. Notre Dame also held the Hokies without an offensive rebound over the final 22:45, including the entire second half.

Junior forward Katy Flecky, who had played sparingly of late while recovering from a sprained ankle, scored all seven of her points during a decisive 22-7 second-half run by the Irish.

Virginia Tech, which led 20-16 at halftime, tied the score at 29 when Dawn Chriss scored an easy basket on an inbounds pass. But the Irish responded with a 9-0 outburst, highlighted by a three-point play from Flecky. Kerri Gardin, who led the Hokies with 10 points, hit a 12-footer and pulled Virginia Tech within 41-35. But the Irish went on a 10-0 run, including a three-pointer by Flecky.

Batteast and Borton each had 10 second-half points for the Irish, who overcame 23-percent shooting in the first half with 50-percent accuracy in the second.

Virginia Tech’s Ieva Kublina did not score in the second half and was limited to three points on 1-for-5 shooting, well below her team-best average of 13.3 points.

BATTEAST REACHES 1,000-POINT MARK AGAINST VIRGINIA TECH
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast scored a game-high 14 points Saturday against No. 16/15 Virginia Tech, becoming the 20th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. She also is the fourth-fastest Irish player ever to reach that milestone, doing so in her 72nd career game.

Batteast also is one of only five Irish players to score 800 points in her first two seasons at Notre Dame, joining Morgan, Matvey, Riley and Ratay. For her career, the South Bend native ranks sixth in school history with a 14.1 ppg. scoring average, and 19th in total points (1,013), having also passed Kelley Siemon (1,006 from 1997-2001) in the latter category during the Virginia Tech game.

BATTEAST AT HER BEST AGAINST THE BEST
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast has played very well in Notre Dame’s five games against Top 25 opponents this year. She is averaging 16.6 points and 8.4 rebounds with two double-doubles in those matchups against ranked opponents in 2003-04.

GOT TO HAVE GOOD SUPPORT IN THIS SERIES
If history is any indication, the top players for both Notre Dame and Connecticut probably won’t make the difference in the outcome of Tuesday night’s game. In fact, both All-Americans — Irish junior forward Jacqueline Batteast and Husky senior guard/forward Diana Taurasi — have struggled mightily in this series over the past three seasons. Here’s a breakdown of the statistics compiled by both players in the Notre Dame-Connecticut series:
Batteast (3 gms) — 9.0 ppg., 9.3 rpg., 209 FG% (9-43), .538 FT% (7-13), high game – 16 points
Taurasi (6 gms) — 7.5 ppg., 4.2 apg., .258 FG% (17-66), .175 3FG% (7-40), high game – 14 points

NO CUPCAKES FOR THE IRISH
Notre Dame has fought through a brutal schedule that has included playing six games away from home against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in both major national polls. Notre Dame defeated No. 22 Auburn (77-64), lost a narrow overtime decision at No. 20 Colorado (67-63) after leading much of the way in that game, before falling at Michigan State (92-63), third-ranked Tennessee (83-59), Washington (85-74) and No. 7 Purdue (76-63). Both MSU and UW were receiving votes at tipoff, with Michigan State since moving into the Top 25 polls, checking in 23rd in the current Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches’ rankings.

The rugged Irish schedule has not gone unnoticed by the national media. The latest CollegeRPI.com rankings have tabbed Notre Dame’s schedule as the fifth-toughest in the nation, while the Sagarin/Collegiate Basketball News ratings have pegged the Irish docket as the sixth-toughest in the nation (through Jan. 10).

CHARITY STRIPERS
Perhaps one of Notre Dame’s New Year’s resolutions was to improve its free throw shooting. After making only 65.3 percent of their foul shots during the first six weeks of the season, the Irish have been exceptionally strong at the stripe in the month of January. Notre Dame has connected on 70 of 86 free throws in its last four games, good for a solid .814 percentage. The Irish have topped the 70-percent mark in all four contests, including a season-high .900 (27 of 30) on New Year’s Day vs. Marquette and an .824 (14 of 17) efficiency rate in Saturday’s win over No. 16/15 Virginia Tech.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Notre Dame’s defense was extremely proficient in Saturday’s 53-40 victory over No. 16/15 Virginia Tech. The Irish limited the Hokies to only 40 points, their lowest scoring output in nearly three years (Feb. 7, 2001 in a 90-38 loss to Connecticut). At the same time, it was Notre Dame’s best defensive performance since Feb. 13, 2002, when it put the clamps on St. John’s in a 66-31 win at the Joyce Center.

Part of the Irish success on Saturday could be traced to its work on the glass. After falling behind 22-19 in the rebounding column at halftime, Notre Dame dominated the Hokies on the boards in the second half, outrebounding Virginia Tech, 22-9. Even more impressive was the fact that the Irish did not allow the Hokies to grab a single offensive rebound over the final 22 minutes and 45 seconds, including the entire second half.

A HALF TO REMEMBER
Notre Dame put together one of the best defensive performances in school history on Dec. 13 vs. Dayton, rolling over the Flyers, 78-41 at the Joyce Center. In that game, the Irish held UD to just 11 first-half points, which matches the third-lowest mark in school history and equals the lowest opponent total ever at the Joyce Center (11 in the second half by Grace College on Jan. 31, 1978 — pre-NCAA era). The fewest points Notre Dame has ever allowed in one half is seven (first half) at Maryland on Jan. 9, 1985. The Irish also gave up just 10 first-half points to Georgetown on March 4, 2001, in a BIG EAST Conference Championship quarterfinal game at Storrs, Conn.

In addition, Notre Dame limited Dayton to an opponent record-low .050 field goal percentage (one for 20) in the first half, breaking the old Irish opponent record of .115 (three for 26), which had been set twice — in the first half of the aforementioned Maryland game, and by DePaul in the first half on Dec. 31, 2001 at the Joyce Center.

RUNAWAY TRAIN
The Irish have often opened games in strong fashion, but nothing like what they turned out on Dec. 13 vs. Dayton. Notre Dame began the game on a 26-0 run, the largest game-opening surge in 27 seasons of Irish basketball. The previous record for the best start to a game was 17-0 vs. Texas Tech in the 2000 NCAA Mideast Regional Semifinal in Memphis.

The 26 unanswered points also tied for the second-longest run of consecutive markers by Notre Dame. The school record is 31 straight points, which the Irish achieved on Jan. 18, 1997 vs. Pittsburgh — Notre Dame trailed 14-2, but went on a 31-0 run over the next 13:14 to seize control of the game. The Irish also had a 26-point spree on Jan. 31, 1998 against Seton Hall, turning a 56-29 score into an 82-29 margin over a 9:44 span in the second half.

BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES
Based on her play this season, sophomore point guard Megan Duffy is making a strong case to be named the BIG EAST Conference Most Improved Player. Last season, the Dayton native averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 assists per game while still shaking off the rust caused by off-season knee surgery. She also struggled to find her shooting touch, hitting at a .242 clip from the floor and making only seven of 35 three-point attempts (.200).

Fast forward to this season, where Duffy has been an impact player from the outset. She is second on the team (and 19th in the BIG EAST) in scoring at 12.8 ppg., which more than quadruples her production from last year. However, her biggest improvement has come in her shooting numbers, where she’s connecting at a sharp .467 percentage (28-60) from the three-point line, good for second in the BIG EAST and 11th in the nation (NCAA ranking as of Jan. 5). She’s also quadrupled the number of treys she made all of last year and after cracking double digits just twice in 2002-03 (career high was 12 points), she has eight double-figure games this season, with all eight matching or surpassing her previous career best and two topping the 20-point mark. Her best outing to date was a 25-point outburst on Dec. 4 vs. Wisconsin, where she shattered her career standard from beyond the arc, going six for 10 from downtown.

But lest we forget her primary duties at the point, Duffy is leading the Irish and ranks sixth in the BIG EAST with 4.57 assists per game, doubling last year’s output. She also has just 43 turnovers, giving her a healthy 1.49 assist/turnover ratio (10th in the BIG EAST). She has dished out at least five assists seven times this year, including a career-high nine dimes on Dec. 7 at Washington.

DISTANCE LEARNING
One of the supposed question marks surrounding this year’s Notre Dame squad was its perimeter shooting. Through the first two months of the season, the Irish have had an emphatic response to that question. Notre Dame is third in the BIG EAST with a .377 three-point percentage, hitting 60 of 159 shots from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Megan Duffy has been a major contributor from beyond the arc, connecting at a .467 clip (28-60), which is second in the BIG EAST and 11th in the nation (NCAA rank as of Jan. 5). She also stands 10th in the BIG EAST with 2.0 triples made per game.

Another long distance specialist for Notre Dame has been senior guard Jeneka Joyce, which is a pleasant surprise when you consider the Topeka, Kan., native has spent the better part of the past two seasons trying to recover from numerous leg injuries. Joyce has knocked down 17 of 37 treys for a .459 three-point percentage, but she also has not yet made enough field goals to qualify for statistical rankings (minimum of 2.0 per game).

HARDWARE HAUL
Although they didn’t come away with the trophy they wanted at the WBCA Classic, junior forward Jacqueline Batteast and senior guard Le’Tania Severe did receive individual honors as members of the WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team. Batteast averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two-game tournament, while shooting .529 from the field. Severe carded 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the tournament and posted a stellar .857 free throw percentage (12 of 14). It was the first career all-tournament team selection for both players.

IRISH APPEARING IN BOTH MAJOR NATIONAL POLLS
Notre Dame is receiving three votes in the latest Associated Press poll after spending the first three weeks of this season in the AP Top 25 poll. The Irish were ranked 15th in the preseason AP poll, marking the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the Irish were tapped in the initial AP survey of the year.

Notre Dame also is earning one vote in the most recent ESPN/USA Today coaches poll after appearing in the Top 25 for the first three weeks of 2003-04. The Irish were pegged No. 16 in the preseason coaches poll, also the seventh time in eight years that they had shown up in the first ESPN/USA Today poll of the year.

Notre Dame has faced or will face no less than eight teams that are currently ranked in both major polls (No. 4/4 Connecticut, No. 5/5 Tennessee, No. 10/11 Purdue, No. 14/14 Colorado, No. 16/15 Virginia Tech, No. 20/18 Boston College, No. 23/23 Michigan State and No. 25/25 Miami). In addition, Auburn is ranked 21st in the latest AP poll. Three Notre Dame opponents also presently are receiving votes in one or both major polls this week — Rutgers, Villanova and Washington.

HALF AND HALF
Over the last four seasons, Notre Dame has been nearly unbeatable when it has the lead at halftime. The Irish are 67-5 (.931) since the start of the 2000-01 campaign when they go into the dressing room with the lead, including a 5-1 mark this year. One of those rare losses occurred vs. Colorado in the WBCA Classic on Nov. 15. Notre Dame led 37-33 at the intermission before the Buffaloes rallied for a 67-63 overtime win.

THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE …
Over the last nine seasons, Notre Dame has discovered that a solid defensive effort can almost certainly guarantee a victory. In fact, since the beginning of the 1995-96 season (Notre Dame’s first in the BIG EAST Conference), the Irish have an amazing 118-4 (.967) record when they hold their opponents to less than 60 points in a game. Notre Dame has added four more wins to that ledger this season by holding down Valparaiso (74-57), Dayton (78-41), Colorado State (63-59) and Virginia Tech (53-40).

… BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SCORE IF YOU WANT TO WIN
Not resting solely on its defensive laurels, Notre Dame also seemingly has found the magic mark when it comes to outscoring its opponents. Over the last nine seasons (1995-96 to present), the Irish are 86-3 (.966) when they score at least 80 points in a game. The only blemishes on that record are a pair of overtime losses to Texas A&M (88-84) and Michigan State (87-83) in 1995 and a 106-81 loss to Connecticut in 1998. Notre Dame tacked on another win to this tally on Dec. 4 with its 82-64 win over Wisconsin.

SWEET SUCCESS
Notre Dame is one of only eight schools in the country to have appeared in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen five times in the past seven seasons (1997-2003). The others are Connecticut (seven times), Tennessee (seven times), Duke (six times), Louisiana Tech (six times), North Carolina (five times), Old Dominion (five times) and Texas Tech (five times).

THE GOLD STANDARD
The Irish are one of just six teams nationwide to have an active streak of 10 consecutive 20-win seasons. The others in these elite club are Tennessee (27), Texas Tech (14), Louisiana Tech (12), Old Dominion (12) and Connecticut (10).

CHECK OUT THE THREADS
For the first time since the 1998-99 season, the Irish are wearing white uniforms at home this season, eschewing the golden togs they sported for the past four seasons. Notre Dame has worn white uniforms on numerous occasions on the past, dating as far back as the school’s first varsity women’s basketball squad, which took the floor in 1977-78. Blue continues to be the primary color for the Irish road uniforms.

NOW THAT’S A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
One of the hallmarks of Notre Dame’s success has been its stellar play at home. In fact, the Irish have been virtually untouchable at home in recent years, winning 104 of their last 113 games (.920) at the 11,418-seat Joyce Center, including a current 11-game winning streak. Notre Dame also has a 62-7 (.899) record in BIG EAST Conference play at the Joyce Center, sporting a 31-game winning streak at home before it was snapped with a 48-45 loss to Villanova in the 2002 home finale.

The Irish have been particularly strong when it comes to non-conference games at home, winning 45 of their last 47 non-BIG EAST contests (.957) at the Joyce Center, dating back to the 1994-95 season. The only two losses in that span came to Wisconsin in 1996 (81-69) and Purdue in 2003 (71-54). The Purdue loss snapped a 33-game non-conference home winning streak which began after the UW setback.

Since its inaugural season in 1977-78, Notre Dame has played all of its games at the Joyce Center, posting a 254-70 (.784) record at the venerable facility. In both the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons, the Irish were a perfect 15-0 at home, setting a school record for home wins in a season.

JAMMIN’ THE JOYCE
Beginning with its national championship season of 2000-01, Notre Dame has ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in attendance each of the past three years. The Irish are looking to extend that streak to a fourth straight season and have gotten off to a good start, averaging 6,124 fans for their six home games, including a season-high 6,571 fans on Dec. 22 vs. USC. According to the latest unofficial national attendance rankings compiled by the Wisconsin Sports Information Office (as of Jan. 5), Notre Dame ranks 10th in the country in attendance.

The Irish averaged 7,132 fans for their 13 home games last season, good for their second consecutive eighth-place finish in the final NCAA attendance rankings. Last year also saw Notre Dame register two of the top 10 crowds in school history, including a season-high gathering of 9,483 fans, the fifth-largest in school history for the nationally-televised matchup with Purdue on Jan. 4.

All of the top 20 crowds in the Irish record book have occurred during the 17-year tenure of head coach Muffet McGraw (1987-present). And, as more evidence of Notre Dame’s rapid elevation to “hot ticket” status in South Bend, 19 of the top 20 crowds in school history have been recorded in the last four seasons.

NOTRE DAME AMONG RECENT WINS LEADERS
Notre Dame has won 189 games over the last eight seasons (23.6 victories per year), which stands as the ninth-most wins of any school in the country during that time.

NOTRE DAME FACING ONE TOUGH SLATE
Historically, Notre Dame has always played a difficult schedule and 2003-04 is more evidence of that fact. The Irish will play no less than 17 teams that qualified for postseason play last year, including 12 NCAA Tournament squads and six that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (highlighted by two-time defending national champion Connecticut and NCAA runner-up Tennessee). In addition, five opponents (Connecticut, Purdue, Tennessee, Valparaiso and Villanova) won the regular-season or tournament title in their respective conference. Furthermore, 19 of the 26 possible Irish opponents finished with records of .500 or better last season, including 12 squads that posted 20-win campaigns. All told, Notre Dame opponents had a combined winning percentage of .610 last season (490-313).

NOTRE DAME ON THE SMALL SCREEN
Based on its success in recent years, Notre Dame continues to be a favorable television draw and the 2003-04 season will be no exception. The Irish are slated to play on the small screen no less than nine times in the coming campaign, including four appearances on national television.

Notre Dame made its ’03-04 television debut on Dec. 7 at Washington in a matchup that was shown to a national cable audience on Fox Sports Net. The Irish returned to coast-to-coast television on Jan. 4 when they visited Purdue for the inaugural BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge on ESPN2.

In addition, Notre Dame has been selected to appear on the BIG EAST Conference television package four times this season, including three home games. The Irish already have taken on Virginia Tech (Jan. 10), and will also face Villanova (Jan. 24) and Boston College (Jan. 31) at home, as well as travel to Rutgers (Feb. 28) for games in front of the BIG EAST TV cameras. Those games may be seen on a regional basis in several major East Coast markets, including New York, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia and Washington, as well as South Bend, where WHME-TV (Channel 46) will show the games on a delayed basis.

It also has been announced that the BIG EAST matchup between Notre Dame and two-time defending national champion Connecticut will be televised by Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) with College Sports Television (CSTV) also picking up the broadcast and airing it nationally on DirecTV Channel 610. That game will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ET) from the Joyce Center.

Both Notre Dame-Miami games also will be televised this season. The Jan. 28 matchup in Coral Gables, Fla., has been picked up by the Sunshine Network and will be shown regionally beginning at 7 p.m. (ET). Meanwhile, the Feb. 25 rematch at the Joyce Center will be broadcast live to a nationwide audience on CSTV. That contest will tip off at 8 p.m. (ET) — some early schedules initially had this game listed one hour earlier.

In addition, the semifinals of this year’s BIG EAST Championship presented by State Farm will be broadcast on the BIG EAST television package Monday, March 8 at 6 and 8 p.m. (ET) from the Hartford (Conn.) Civic Center. WHME-TV in South Bend will carry those games live. The championship game will air live on ESPN2 on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. (ET).

NOTRE DAME TO PLAY HOST TO NCAA TOURNAMENT ACTION IN 2004
After a two-year absence, the Joyce Center once again will be home to NCAA Tournament competition as Notre Dame was selected to be one of 16 sites for first- and second-round games in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Action at the South Bend subregional will take place Sunday, March 21 and Tuesday, March 23, with exact tipoff times and potential television broadcasts to be determined by the NCAA during the week leading up to the competition.

Should Notre Dame qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in school history (and the ninth consecutive season), the Irish are guaranteed to play at home. Notre Dame has played five NCAA tourney games at the Joyce Center in its history, going 4-1 and and advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2000 and 2001 (the Irish went on to win the national championship in the latter season). Single-session ticket books for NCAA Tournament games at the Joyce Center currently are available to the general public (one ticket for both Sunday games, one ticket for Tuesday’s only game). Single-game tickets will not be made available until after the field of 64 is announced on March 14. For more information on how to purchase tickets for the 2004 NCAA Notre Dame subregional, contact the Irish athletics ticket office at (574) 631-7356 or visit the ticket windows located on the second floor of the Joyce Center at Gate 1.

NOTRE DAME ON THE AIRWAVES
Once again this season, every Irish women’s basketball game (home and away) will air on the flagship stations of the Artistic Media Partners (AMP) Network — WDND-AM (ESPN Radio 1620) and WNDV-AM (1490) in South Bend. Veteran broadcaster and AMP sports director Sean Stires is now in his fourth season handling the play-by-play for Notre Dame. The Irish also can be heard on the Internet at Notre Dame’s official athletics website (www.und.com) by subscribing to Fighting Irish Pass, which gives listeners full access to a variety of Irish athletics events on radio for only $6.95 per month.

THE Muffet McGraw SHOW
Muffet McGraw’s half-hour, weekly television show is produced by LeSea Broadcasting and hosted by Bob Nagle. The show, now in its seventh season, is carried by WHME-TV (Channel 46) in South Bend and airs at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Saturdays through the end of the 2003-04 season. The show also is available via satellite (Galaxy 6, Transponder 15) each Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (ET), and may be seen on LeSea Broadcasting stations in Denver, Honolulu, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Tulsa (check local listings).

BATTEAST NAMED JOHN R. WOODEN WOMEN’S AWARD PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind.) is one of 30 players who were named to the 2003-04 John R. Wooden Women’s Award Preseason All-America Team on Aug. 13. Based on a vote of the Wooden Women’s Award National Advisory Board, these 30 players are considered the top candidates for the inaugural Wooden Women’s Award, which will be presented to the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player at the conclusion of the ’03-04 season.

Batteast is a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection who started every game for the Irish last season, leading the team in scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.3 rpg.) and blocked shots (1.56 bpg.). She also ranked among the top 15 in the BIG EAST in those categories, as well as steals (1.97 spg.) and double-doubles (8). In addition, the 6-2 wing scored in double figures 26 times, topped the 20-point mark five times, and earned game-high rebounding honors of 14 occasions. She ranks among Notre Dame’s career leaders in scoring average (6th – 13.8 ppg.) and rebounding average (tie-2nd – 8.1 rpg.), and she is one of only five players in school history to amass at least 800 points in her first two seasons under the Golden Dome.

Batteast is one of five BIG EAST players named to the Wooden Preseason All-America Team, joining Rebekkah Brunson of Georgetown, Cappie Pondexter of Rutgers, and the Connecticut duo of Ann Strother and Diana Taurasi.

In mid-January, the Wooden Women’s Award Committee will release its Midseason Top 20 List, followed in March by the official voting ballot which will consist of the top 10-15 players who have proven their success in the classroom (minimum 2.0 grade-point average) as well as on the court. More than 250 voters, comprised of sports media members and women’s college basketball experts around the country, will then cast their votes for the five-member Wooden All-America Team and the Wooden Award winner.

Although the 2003-04 season marks the debut of the Wooden Women’s Award, the honor initially was created in 1976 to recognize the top male collegiate basketball player in the nation. Past winners include Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84) and Tim Duncan (’97).

BATTEAST CHOSEN FOR STATE FARM/WBCA WADE TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast is one of 35 players who were selected to the 2003-04 State Farm Wade Trophy Preseason Watch List on Aug. 20 by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Based on a vote of committee members which include leading coaches, journalists and basketball administrators, these 35 players are considered the top candidates for the State Farm Wade Trophy, which will be presented to the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player at the conclusion of the ’03-04 season.

Batteast is a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection who started every game for the Irish last season, leading the team in scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.3 rpg.) and blocked shots (1.56 bpg.). She also ranked among the top 15 in the BIG EAST in those categories, as well as steals (1.97 spg.) and double-doubles (8). In addition, the 6-2 wing scored in double figures 26 times, topped the 20-point mark five times, and earned game-high rebounding honors of 14 occasions. She ranks among Notre Dame’s career leaders in scoring average (6th – 13.8 ppg.) and rebounding average (tie-2nd – 8.1 rpg.), and she is one of only five players in school history to amass at least 800 points in her first two seasons under the Golden Dome.

Batteast was one of five BIG EAST players named to the ’03-04 Wade Trophy Preseason Watch List, joining Rebekkah Brunson of Georgetown, Ieva Kublina of Virginia Tech, Cappie Pondexter of Rutgers and last year’s Wade Trophy recipient, Diana Taurasi of Connecticut.

The State Farm Wade Trophy, now in its 27th year, is named after Margaret Wade, the late Delta State University coach who won three national championship in the mid-1970s. The Wade Trophy is considered the one of the most prestigious individual awards in women’s college basketball and is organized by the WBCA and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS).

STREET & SMITH’S TAPS BATTEAST AS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Adding to her armload of preseason hardware, junior forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind.) was named a preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith’s in the magazine’s annual basketball preview issue. It’s the third preseason honor for the talented 6-2 wing, who is a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection. She also was the 2001-02 United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Freshman of the Year and a WBCA/Kodak honorable mention All-American that season, as well as the unanimous choice for BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.

BATTEAST, ERWIN EARN PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast and freshman forward Crystal Erwin both received preseason recognition in a vote of the BIG EAST Conference coaches that was released at the league’s annual Media Day on Oct. 30 at the Newark (N.J.) Liberty Airport Hilton. Batteast was a preseason first-team all-BIG EAST selection, while Erwin was named the Preseason BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, sharing the honor with Connecticut’s Liz Sherwood.

Batteast led the Irish in scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.3 rpg.), blocked shots (1.56 bpg.) and double-doubles (8), ranking among the BIG EAST leaders in all four categories. She is a two-time second-team all-conference selection and is one of only five players in school history to score 800 points in her first two seasons at Notre Dame.

As a senior last year at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Erwin earned All-America honors from Parade, Street & Smith’s and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and also was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-America Game in Atlanta. She averaged 22.3 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game during her storied prep career, averaging double-doubles during both her junior (24.9 ppg., 14.9 rpg.) and senior seasons (21.2 ppg., 10.2 rpg.). She holds career records at St. Paul for points (2,720), rebounds (1,630) and blocks (380), as well as the school single-season scoring mark (869 in 2001-02). She follows Batteast as the second Irish rookie in three years to be chosen the BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year.

BATTEAST PICKED FOR NAISMITH AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast is among 30 preseason candidates named to the watch list for 2003-04 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Awards which are presented annually by the Atanta Tip-Off Club. The Naismith Awards program, now in its 36th year, honors the outstanding male and female college basketball players in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. The candidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts.

The Naismith Award is the latest in a series of preseason honors for the Batteast. She was named a preseason All-American by both the John R. Wooden Women’s Award and Street & Smith’s magazine, and she also was selected to the State Farm/WBCA Wade Trophy Preseason Watch List. In addition, she was a first-team all-BIG EAST choice, according to a vote of the league’s head coaches.

IRISH INK THREE STUDENT-ATHLETES IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw announced Nov. 18 that three of the nation’s top high school student-athletes have chosen to continue their careers with the Irish, signing national letters of intent to attend Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2004. Charel Allen , a 5-10 guard from Monessen, Pa., Melissa D’Amico, a 6-5 forward/center from Manorville, N.Y., and Tulyah Gaines (pronounced too-LIE-uh) , a 5-8 guard from North Las Vegas, Nev., all committed to the Irish during the early signing period, which lasted from Nov. 12-19.

Allen will arrive at Notre Dame next fall as one of the top college prospects from western Pennsylvania. She is a three-time Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-American who averaged 29.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 7.2 steals and 4.8 assists per game last season at Monessen High School. She also is a two-time Associated Press first-team all-state pick and was named the 2003 AP Class A Player of the Year. In addition, she is a two-time all-Pittsburgh metro area selection and a ’03 AAU 16-and-under All-American. As a freshman in 2001, she was a fifth-team AP all-state choice when she averaged 23.6 points per game. In her first three seasons at MHS, Allen has piled up 2,302 points (26.2 ppg.), 995 rebounds (11.3 rpg.), 600 steals (6.8 spg.), 426 assists (4.8 apg.) and 102 blocks (1.2 bpg.). She was ranked 27th in the nation by Blue Star Index and she will be the fourth Pennsylvania native to play for the Irish (the first in 13 seasons).

At 6-5, D’Amico will be the tallest player on the Irish roster when she sets foot on the Notre Dame campus in the fall of 2004. A versatile post player, she averaged 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game last season for William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, N.Y. (located on Long Island). She burst onto the national scene this past summer at the adidas Top Ten Camp in Suwanee, Ga., and is considered by most recruiting services to be one of the top players on the rise in this year’s class. She currently is ranked 47th in the country by All-Star Girls Report and 91st by Blue Star Index , and she follows in the footsteps of another talented New Yorker who came to Notre Dame — two-time honorable mention All-American and Mount Vernon, N.Y., product, Katryna Gaither (1993-97).

Gaines is a playmaking guard who will give the Irish solid depth in the backcourt. Last summer, she moved to North Las Vegas and is attending Cheyenne High School, where she will play for the Desert Shields this year. Gaines previously lived in Burbank, Calif., where she was a three-year starter at John Burroughs High School. She averaged 18.9 points and 5.1 assists per game last season and was a first-team all-CIF SS (Southern California) Division 2A First Team selection. In addition, she is a two-time Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-American and won a bronze medal with the West Team at the 2003 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival in Colorado Springs. Gaines averaged 6.0 points per game during the five-game tournament, which featured the top prep players from around the country. She is ranked 25th nationally by All-Game Sports, 52nd by Blue Star Index and 61st by All-Star Girls Report , and she is the second Las Vegas area resident in as many years to sign with Notre Dame — current Irish freshman guard Breona Gray graduated from Bishop Gorman High School last May.

With the addition of Allen, D’Amico and Gaines, Notre Dame has assembled the nation’s 14th-ranked recruiting class according to Blue Star Index. This marks the eighth consecutive year in which the Irish have attracted a Top 20 class, making Notre Dame one of only three schools (along with Connecticut and Tennessee) to have such a consistent run of recruiting success.

NEW BOOK BY McGRAW NOW ON SALE
Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw tried her hand at writing during the past year and has co-authored a book with Bradley University professor Paul Gullifor entitled “Courting Success: Muffet McGraw’s Formula For Winning In Sports And In Life.” The book, which currently is in bookstores nationwide and may be purchased through on-line booksellers such as Amazon.com, touches on how, in the shadows of the nation’s most storied football program, McGraw has quietly built the women’s basketball program into a national power.

Women’s basketball has been one of the University’s most consistently successful varsity sport during the past 16 years, qualifying for the postseason 13 times, including 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament, five NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances and two Final Fours berths. The team’s rise to national prominence was then cemented with a national championship in 2001. In short, the Notre Dame women’s basketball program has been steadily built into a perennial national championship contender, and its architect for those 16 years has been McGraw. Entering the 2003-04 season, the Pottsville, Pa., native has won 363 games at Notre Dame, has a stellar .725 winning percentage and was the consensus 2001 national Coach of the Year.

Personal accolades aside, McGraw has always been more concerned with off-court success than the progress of her teams. Accordingly, this book is a motivational and inspirational book in which she shares her ingredients for success — on and off the court. It provides lessons for those aspiring toward success in basketball, and in life, while illustrating why Muffet McGraw is one of college basketball’s most accomplished coaches.

NEXT GAME: WEST VIRGINIA
Notre Dame heads back on the road for a two-game swing that begins Saturday with a 4 p.m. (ET) matchup at West Virginia. The Irish will be seeking to preserve their perfect series record against the Mountaineers, having gone 11-0 all-time against WVU, including a 5-0 record in Morgantown. Last year, Notre Dame twice had to work hard to keep their unblemished mark intact, climbing out of a 14-point hole to down the Mountaineers, 66-59, in Morgantown, before erasing a two-point halftime deficit to oust a determined WVU squad, 69-64, in the return encounter at the Joyce Center.

West Virginia (9-5, 1-2) has had to wage a battle of attrition this season, losing players to injuries, defections and suspensions and leaving the Mountaineers with only nine healthy bodies. Still, WVU opened the year in strong fashion by winning six of its first seven games, highlighted by a victory over Georgia Tech at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, since that hot start, the Mountaineers’ fortunes have soured a bit, as they have lost four of their last seven games, including their last two BIG EAST contests against Connecticut and Seton Hall. West Virginia is scheduled to visit St. John’s Tuesday night before playing host to Notre Dame this weekend.

PROMOTIONAL CORNER
Here’s a rundown of some upcoming promotions and giveaways at future Notre Dame women’s basketball games this season (additional promotions and giveaways may be added at a later date):

• Jan. 13 vs. Connecticut — Irish celebration; shamrock lights to the first 5,000 fans
• Jan. 24 vs. Villanova — Fiesta day; Notre Dame sombreros to the first 2,000 fans
• Jan. 31 vs. Boston College — Circus day; carnival games set up on concourse
• Feb. 4 vs. Georgetown — Western night; “Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey” performs at halftime