Irish Set To Solve Road Woes

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NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (9-7, 2-2)
VS. SYRACUSE ORANGEWOMEN (6-8, 3-1)

The Date and Time: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004, at 7 p.m. ET.
The Site: Manley Field House (9,500) in Syracuse, N.Y.
The Tickets: Still available by calling the Syracuse Athletics Ticket Office (315-443-2121).
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 Syracuse game through the Notre Dame (www.und.com) and Syracuse (www.suathletics.com) athletics web sites.
Web Sites: Notre Dame (www.und.com), Syracuse (www.suathletics.com).

IRISH STILL LOOKING TO SOLVE ROAD WOES AS THEY VISIT SYRACUSE
After running the gamut of emotions over the past two weeks, Notre Dame will seek to find some semblance of stability when they travel to Syracuse Wednesday for a 7 p.m. (ET) contest at Manley Field House. The Irish have gone toe-to-toe with some of the nation’s top teams this year, posting a 3-3 mark against ranked opponents. However, the Achilles’ heel for Notre Dame has been its play on the road, where the Irish are 2-7 this season.

• Notre Dame (9-7, 2-2 BIG EAST) had built up a great deal of momentum following wins over No. 16 Virginia Tech and No. 4 Connecticut earlier last week. That groundswell of positive energy came to a screeching halt Saturday at West Virginia as the host Mountaineers defeated the Irish, 64-51. WVU scored 24 unanswered points in the first half and then fought off a spirited second-half rally by Notre Dame to secure its first-ever win over the Irish.
• Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast continued her recent surge with her third consecutive double-double (and sixth of the season), piling up game highs of 22 points (10-14 FG) and 10 rebounds against West Virginia. Batteast is averaging 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game with three double-doubles and a .635 field goal percentage in conference play.
• Syracuse (6-8, 3-1) has been the surprise team in the BIG EAST this year, rebounding from a tough non-conference season with wins in three of its first four league games. The Orangewomen are coming off a 59-57 overtime victory over Rutgers on Jan. 14, followed by a 55-50 win at Providence on Saturday.
• All-BIG EAST guard Julie McBride leads Syracuse in scoring (17.8 ppg.) and assists (4.4 apg.), while forward/center Chineze Nwagbo averages a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game.
• Notre Dame leads the all-time series with Syracuse, 14-2, including a 6-1 mark at Manley Field House.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame has ridden a true roller coaster of emotions since BIG EAST play began on Jan. 7. In that two-week span, the Irish have seen a six-point lead slip away in the final minute at Georgetown, then bounced back to defeat a pair of ranked opponents convincingly (including No. 4 Connecticut), but watched their momentum dry up with their first-ever loss at West Virginia.

In a way, this early conference stretch has reflected Notre Dame’s play all season. Facing the nation’s fourth-toughest schedule, the Irish have been particularly dominant at home, going 7-0 at the Joyce Center, but have had maddening runs of inconsistency on the road, posting a 2-7 mark. Still, Notre Dame has gained valuable experience against some top-notch opponents this year, going 3-3 against Top 25 teams and firmly planting itself within the top 30 of most RPI ladders.

• Junior forward and preseason All-American Jacqueline Batteast (15.9 ppg., 8.3 rpg., .478 field goal percentage, six double-doubles) has lived up to her accolades this season, ranking among the BIG EAST leaders in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots (1.19 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. Since BIG EAST play began, she has been red hot, averaging 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game with a sparkling .635 field goal percentage and three double-doubles, all in the past three games. She now has 60 career double-figure scoring games and 25 career double-doubles after a 22-point, 10-rebound effort Saturday at West Virginia. Batteast also became the 20th Notre Dame player to score 1,000 career points when she tallied 14 points vs. Virginia Tech on Jan. 10, making her the fourth-fastest ever to reach that milestone (72 games).
• Junior center Teresa Borton (7.4 ppg., 4.6 rpg., .534 FG%, .857 FT%) and sophomore forward Courtney LaVere (8.6 ppg., 5.3 rpg.) also have made important contributions at times this season. Borton has recovered well from off-season heel surgery, averaging 10.0 ppg. and 5.3 rpg. with a .590 FG% during Notre Dame’s last nine games. She was at her best 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 at least 10 points six times in her last 10 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. She once again cracked double figures on Jan. 1 vs. Marquette, tossing in 16 points on six of 11 shooting. LaVere has looked solid in her last two outings, providing a critical 14 points against Connecticut and adding 10 points Saturday at West Virginia.
• Sophomore Megan Duffy (11.5 ppg., team-high 4.81 apg., .431 3FG%, .821 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 almost quadrupled her scoring output and she owns a team-best 1.49 assist/turnover ratio (ninth in the BIG EAST). In addition, she is showing offensive diversity, knocking down 28 three-pointers this season. 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 five-or-more assists in nine games, including a career-high nine assists on Dec. 7 at Washington, and 6.7 assists in her last three games (seven handouts each in wins over nationally-ranked Virginia Tech and Connecticut).
• Senior captain Le’Tania Severe (8.3 ppg., 3.4 apg., .477 FG%, .793 FT%) has slid over to the shooting guard position in place of the NCAA’s all-time three-point queen, Alicia Ratay, and Severe has filled the role admirably. 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 leads the team with 1.56 steals per game and has been a vital piece of Notre Dame’s transition game. She has scored in double digits seven times this year, including a season-high 15 points at Purdue and 12 points against Connecticut last week.
• Senior guard Jeneka Joyce (4.4 ppg., .442 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 sixth on the school’s career charts in three-point percentage (.387).

A QUICK LOOK AT SYRACUSE
A new era in Syracuse women’s basketball has begun this season with the arrival of first-year head coach Keith Cieplicki. The former Vermont mentor, who experienced a great deal of success with the Catamounts, is hoping to work his magic in central New York with the Orangewomen, who are just one year removed from an NCAA Tournament appearance and a berth in the BIG EAST Championship semifinals.

Cieplicki and his charges have experienced numerous challenges during his rookie season at Syracuse. The Orangewomen are 6-8 this season (3-1 in the BIG EAST), but have had to play much of the campaign with a very thin bench. For various reasons, Syracuse has suited up as few as seven players for many of its games, forcing the remaining squad members to play more than 30 minutes per night. The depth issue hurt SU early on, as the Orangewomen went 3-7 in non-conference play, including a five-game losing streak to close out the docket.

However, the dawn of the BIG EAST season has brought new hope for Syracuse, as the Orangewomen have reeled off three wins in their first four outings, including an emotional 59-57 overtime win over Rutgers on Jan. 14 at Manley Field House. SU trailed by 15 points at halftime, but rallied to down the Scarlet Knights.for the third time in school history. The Orangewomen then followed up that triumph with a 55-50 win at Providence on Saturday, holding off a furious Friar comeback down the stretch. Junior forward/center Chineze Nwagbo piled up a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds and freshman guard Lauren Kohn pumped in 17 points, hitting five of seven three-point attempts, to pace Syracuse to the win.

The Orangewomen run a perimeter-based offense which has played to the strengths of its top returning player, all-BIG EAST senior guard Julie McBride. The Syracuse gunner is averaging 17.8 points per game (19.5 ppg. in conference games) and has moved up to second on her school’s career scoring list. She also is second on the team with 34 three-point field goals and a .324 three-point percentage this year. Although just a freshman, Kohn has been a strong complement in the backcourt, ranking second on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg.) and first in three-point percentage (.368).

Nwagbo provides the muscle for the Orangewomen, ranking third in scoring (8.6 ppg.) and tops in rebounding (7.0 rpg.) and field goal percentage (.526). She has been particularly effective in BIG EAST play, averaging 15.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game with a .531 field goal percentage.

Cieplicki spent six seasons at Vermont prior to coming to Syracuse last April. He has a career record of 133-61 (.686) that includes four 20-win seasons. He also guided Vermont to the 2000 NCAA Tournament, as well as the WNIT quarterfinals in 2002. Cieplicki will be facing Notre Dame for the first time in his career on Wednesday night.

THE NOTRE DAME-SYRACUSE SERIES
Notre Dame has faced Syracuse 16 times in its history, owning a 14-2 record against the Orangewomen (6-1 at Manley Field House) in a matchup that dates back to the 1987-88 season, Muffet McGraw’s first as the Irish head coach. After splitting its first two games with Syracuse, Notre Dame reeled off 12 consecutive wins in the series, before the Orangewomen snapped that streak with a stunning 84-79 upset of the Irish in the quarterfinals of the 2002 BIG EAST Championship. Notre Dame avenged that setback with a 62-54 win at Syracuse in last year’s regular-season finale (see recap in next note).

Among current Notre Dame players, sophomore forward Courtney LaVere is the leading scorer against the Orangewomen, scoring 10 points in her only previous matchup with Syracuse. Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast is averaging 8.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in three games against SU, while senior guard Le’Tania Severe has averaged 8.7 assists and has a 3.71 assist/turnover ratio (26 assists, seven turnovers) in her last three games vs. the Orangewomen. A complete rundown of the statistics current Irish players have compiled against Syracuse can be found on page 17 of this notes package.

THE LAST TIME NOTRE DAME AND SYRACUSE MET
Forward Jacqueline Batteast piled up her seventh double-double of the 2002-03 season with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds as Notre Dame defeated Syracuse, 62-54, on March 4, 2003, at Manley Field House in the BIG EAST Conference regular season finale for both teams.

Guard Alicia Ratay turned in another steady performance on the perimeter, scoring 14 points and connecting on four of nine three-point field goals for Notre Dame. Forward Courtney LaVere chipped in with 10 points, forward Katy Flecky contributed 10 rebounds and a career-high four steals and guard Le’Tania Severe added a season-high eight assists as the Irish defeated the Orangewomen for the 14th time in 16 career meetings.

Rochelle Coleman had a game-high 17 points, including five three-point field goals for Syracuse. April Jean notched 13 points and Shannon Perry picked up her 15th double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Julie McBride, who came into the game as SU’s leading scorer, was limited to just six points on two of 11 shooting, although she did hand out a team-high seven assists.

Coleman’s long-range shooting was the story early in the first half, as the Syracuse guard pumped in three consecutive triples in the first 2:39 of the game to give her team a 9-4 lead. As it turned out, that would be the largest lead of the night for the Orangewomen. Notre Dame quickly tied the game at 11-all on a Batteast layup at the 11:48 mark.

That deadlock was the first of five ties in the opening half, with the last coming at 19-19 on a layup by LaVere with 6:50 left in the period. That basket ignited an 11-1 run to end the half, as Notre Dame held Syracuse without a field goal over the final seven minutes of the frame. Batteast hit a bucket in the lane with six seconds left to give the Irish a 28-20 lead going into halftime.

The Orangewomen appeared rejuvenated in the early stages of the second half, as three-pointers by Coleman and McBride highlighted a 10-2 SU run that knotted the score at 30-all with 16:41 to play. Notre Dame steadied itself and rebuilt a five-point lead four times over the next five minutes, the final time coming at 42-37 on a three-pointer by guard Megan Duffy.

Syracuse held fast and pulled even with the Irish once again, tying the game three times in a four-minute stretch. The Orangewomen eventually regained a 50-49 lead (their only edge of the second half) on a short jumper by Jean with 4:55 to play. That’s when Ratay went to work, burying three consecutive three-point baskets to single-handedly direct a 9-2 Notre Dame run as the visitors assumed a 58-52 lead with 1:17 remaining.

Coleman brought Syracuse back within four with a jumper on her team’s next possession. However, the Orangewomen were forced to begin fouling the Irish, and having only three team fouls to that point, they needed to begin hacking quickly to send Notre Dame to the foul line in the bonus situation. That strategy backfired somewhat when McBride was whistled for an intentional foul on Severe with 24.7 seconds to play. The Irish guard, who came into the game as an 81-percent foul shooter, buried both of her charities, and possession remained with Notre Dame. Center Teresa Borton knocked down two more bonus tosses two seconds later to assure the Irish of the victory.

OTHER NOTRE DAME-SYRACUSE SERIES TIDBITS

• Only twice has Notre Dame failed to score at least 70 points in its 16-game series with Syracuse. On the other hand, the Orangewomen have topped the 70-point mark just twice all-time against the Irish, most recently turning the trick in their last win over Notre Dame (84-79 on March 3, 2002 at the BIG EAST Championship in Piscataway, N.J.).
• All but two of Notre Dame’s 14 wins in the series have come by double-digit margins, with an average spread of 16.5 points per game.
• Notre Dame has traveled to the state of New York 13 times in its history, posting a 12-1 (.923) mark. The only time the Irish lost within the New York state lines was on their first-ever visit to the Empire State < feb.=”” 4,=”” 1989=”” at=”” syracuse=”” (63-56).=””>

THE BEASTS OF THE BIG EAST
Notre Dame is 114-26 (.814) 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 70 of their last 86 regular-season conference games (.814), 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 126-34 (.788) against league opponents < when=”” factoring=”” in=”” these=”” 20=”” postseason=”” tilts,=”” the=”” irish=”” are=”” 63-7=”” (.900)=”” at=”” home,=”” 51-22=”” (.699)=”” on=”” the=”” road=”” and=”” 12-5=”” (.706)=”” at=”” neutral=”” sites=”” all-time=”” against=”” big=”” east=”” foes.=””>

ON THIS DATE
The Irish have played 11 times on Jan. 21 in their 27-year history, logging a 9-2 record on this date with a 4-2 mark on the road. Notre Dame last played on Jan. 21 in 2002, falling at BIG EAST Conference foe Connecticut, 80-53.

Wednesday’s game will represent the second time Notre Dame and Syracuse have tangled at Manley Field House on Jan. 21. Back in 1998, the Irish posted an 87-69 win over the Orangewomen behind 29 points (13-15 FG) and 13 rebounds from Ruth Riley.

IF NOTRE DAME WINS …

• Notre Dame will garner their 10th victory of the season, marking the 27th consecutive year in which the Irish have logged a double-digit win total. Notre Dame has never had less than 10 wins in a season since it began playing varsity basketball in 1977-78.
• The Irish will pick up their seventh win in the last 10 games after opening the year with a 3-4 record.
• Notre Dame will earn its second true road victory of the season (Colorado State was the first).
• The Irish will improve to 115-26 (.816) all-time in regular-season games against the BIG EAST Conference, maintaining the best winning percentage in conference history.
• Head coach Muffet McGraw will see her record at Notre Dame rise to 373-145 (.720) in 17 seasons under the Golden Dome. She also will watch her career ledger improve to 461-186 (.713) in 22 years at the college level.
• The Irish will raise their all-time record to 537-244 (.688) in 27 seasons of varsity competition.

RECAPPING THE WEST VIRGINIA GAME
The roller coaster of emotions took another dip for the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, as the Irish dropped a 64-51 decision to West Virginia on Jan. 17 in BIG EAST Conference action at WVU Coliseum. It was the first win in 12 tries for the Mountaineers against Notre Dame and it was a disappointing postscript to a week that had seen the Irish defeat back-to-back ranked opponents (No. 16/15 Virginia Tech and No. 4/4 Connecticut) in a four-day span. It also was another example of Notre Dame’s struggles on the road – the Irish are 2-7 away from the Joyce Center this year (1-7 in true road games).

Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast continued her torrid play against BIG EAST opponents, posting her third consecutive double-double and sixth of the season with game highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Irish All-America candidate made 10 of 14 shots from the floor en route to the 60th double-figure scoring game of her career and the 25th double-double of her Irish tenure. In four conference games this year, Batteast is averaging 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds with a .635 field goal percentage (33 of 52) and three double-doubles.

Unfortunately, Batteast did not receive much offensive assistance in Saturday’s loss at West Virginia. Sophomore forward Courtney LaVere was the only other Notre Dame player to score in double figures, coming off the bench to tally 10 points on four of eight shooting. Sophomore guard Megan Duffy passed out a game-high six assists, marking the ninth time this year she has had at least five assists in a game. She also has been distributing the ball well lately, averaging 6.7 assists in her last three games.

Notre Dame looked sharp in the early going, jumping out to a 10-4 lead when Batteast rattled in a short jumper at the 13:40 mark. That’s when the Irish offense went cold and West Virginia took advantage, reeling off 24 consecutive points over the next 8:41 to take command of the contest. Notre Dame did manage to get back within 30-17 on a Batteast layup with 2:28 remaining, but WVU closed the period on a mini 6-2 run to take a 19-point lead, its largest of the game at the intermission.

Remembering the 14-point deficit it faced in the same building last season and the ensuing comeback victory, Notre Dame felt it could rally once again against the Mountaineers. The Irish methodically began to trim the WVU lead, getting it down to 13 points at the first media timeout and eventually carding an 18-5 run to open the second half. When junior center Teresa Borton hit a layup with 11:53 to play, Notre Dame was within 41-35 and seemingly had the momentum in its corner.

Following another media timeout, WVU’s Janell Dunlap stopped the Irish rally with a jumper, which ignited a 13-4 West Virginia run that wiped out virtually all of Notre Dame’s hard work to that point. Still, the Irish doggedly pursued their hosts and twice whittled their deficit down to eight points, the second coming when LaVere hit a jumper with 3:32 remaining to make the score 56-48. Notre Dame had a chance to creep even closer but misfired on its next possession. Mountaineer guard Yolanda Paige then came up with a steal and layup on the following Irish possession to finally put Notre Dame down for the count. WVU iced its win by making all six of its free throws in the final 67 seconds.

BATTEAST DOMINATING IN BIG EAST PLAY
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast has taken her game to another level against BIG EAST Conference opponents this year. In four conference games this year, Batteast is carding 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, making her one of only two players to be averaging a double-double at this stage in the BIG EAST season. Both marks also put her second in the conference in those categories. In addition, she has the top field goal percentage in the BIG EAST during league play (.635) and she is riding a current streak of three consecutive double-doubles.

Batteast has been especially sharp in the past two games. Against No. 4 Connecticut and West Virginia last week, the Irish All-America candidate averaged 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game with an astronomical .741 field goal percentage (20 of 27).

WE DIDN’T STAY AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
Maybe it’s the long plane rides, or the lumpy mattresses in the hotel, or even the quality of the pre-game meal. Whatever the reason, Notre Dame has struggled mightily on the road this season, going 2-7 away from the Joyce Center (1-7 in true road games). That’s a far cry from the success the Irish have experienced at home, where they are a perfect 7-0 and own an active 12-game winning streak.

NO CUPCAKES FOR THE IRISH
Notre Dame has fought through a brutal schedule that has included playing six games against Top 25 opponents. The Irish have handled the challenge well, going 3-3 in those contests with victories over No. 22/25 Auburn (77-64), No. 16/15 Virginia Tech (53-40) and No. 4/4 Connecticut (66-51). Notre Dame narrowly missed a fourth win over a Top 25 foe, as No. 20/20 Colorado rallied to defeat the Irish, 67-63 in overtime in the championship game of the season-opening WBCA Classic in Boulder, Colo.

The rugged Irish schedule has not gone unnoticed by the national media. The latest Sagarin/Collegiate Basketball News and Massey ratings both have pegged the Notre Dame docket as the third-toughest in the nation, while the current CollegeRPI.com rankings have tabbed the Irish schedule as the fourth-toughest in the country (through Jan. 19).

NOTING THE IRISH WIN OVER #4 CONNECTICUT
Notre Dame’s 66-51 victory over No. 4/4 Connecticut on Jan. 13 at the Joyce Center was historic for a number of reasons. Here are just a few of them:

• Notre Dame’s win over Connecticut snapped the Huskies’ 121-game winning streak against unranked opponents, a string that dated back to Jan. 23, 1999 (a 78-66 loss at Boston College).
• Since the start of the 1998-99 season, Connecticut has lost by 15-plus points only three times and each time, those losses have come to Notre Dame (twice in 2000-01, once in 2003-04).
• Notre Dame is one of only two teams in the nation (and the first BIG EAST squad) to defeat Connecticut more than once in the past 11 seasons (1993-94 to present). During that 11-year stretch, Tennessee is the only other program with multiple wins over the Huskies.
• In the past four seasons (2000-01 to present), half of Connecticut’s six losses have come at the hands of Notre Dame.
• Over the past five seasons (1999-2000 to present), the Joyce Center is the only arena to see multiple losses by Connecticut.

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.=””>

BATTEAST AT HER BEST AGAINST THE BEST
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast has played very well in Notre Dame’s six games against Top 25 opponents this year. She is averaging 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds with three double-doubles in those matchups against ranked opponents in 2003-04.

BATTEAST REACHES 1,000-POINT MARK AGAINST VIRGINIA TECH
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast scored a game-high 14 points on Jan. 10 against No. 16/15 Virginia Tech, becoming the 20th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. She also was 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 fifth in school history with a 14.3 ppg. scoring average, and 18th in total points (1,058), needing just three points to pass Carrie Bates (1,060 from 1981-85) for 17th place all-time.

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 in scoring at 11.5 ppg., which almost quadruples her production from last year. However, her biggest improvement has come in her shooting numbers, where she’s connecting at a .431 percentage (28-65) from the three-point line. 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 fourth in the BIG EAST with 4.81 assists per game, more than doubling last year’s output. She also has just 52 turnovers, giving her a healthy 1.48 assist/turnover ratio (ninth in the BIG EAST). She has dished out at least five assists nine times this year, including a career-high nine dimes on Dec. 7 at Washington. In addition, she is averaging 6.7 assists in Notre Dame’s last three games, including seven handouts each in wins over No. 16/15 Virginia Tech and No. 4/4 Connecticut.

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 fourth in the BIG EAST (and 26th in the nation) with a .369 three-point percentage, hitting 66 of 179 shots from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Megan Duffy has been a major contributor from beyond the arc, connecting at a .431 clip (28-65), which would lead the BIG EAST, but she has not made enough field goals to qualify for statistical ranking (minimum of 2.0 per game). Nevertheless, she stands 12th in the BIG EAST with 1.75 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 leg injuries. Joyce has knocked down 19 of 43 treys for a team-best .442 three-point percentage, but she also has not yet made enough field goals to qualify for the rankings.

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 32 votes in the latest Associated Press poll (good for 27th if the poll were extended) 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 two votes 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.

This season, Notre Dame has faced or will face no less than eight teams that are currently ranked in both major polls (No. 2/2 Tennessee, No. 5/4 Connecticut, No. 8/7 Purdue, No. 14/14 Colorado, No. 18/18 Miami, No. 20/20 Michigan State, No. 23/25 Villanova and No. 24/19 Boston College). In addition, Auburn is ranked 22nd in the latest AP poll and Virginia Tech stands 23rd in the current ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll. Also, Rutgers is receiving votes in both polls this week.

HALF AND HALF
Over the last four seasons, Notre Dame has been nearly unbeatable when it has the lead at halftime. The Irish are 68-5 (.932) since the start of the 2000-01 campaign when they go into the dressing room with the lead, including a 6-1 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 119-4 (.967) record when they hold their opponents to less than 60 points in a game. Notre Dame has added five more wins to that ledger this season by holding down Valparaiso (74-57), Dayton (78-41), Colorado State (63-59), Virginia Tech (53-40) and Connecticut (66-51).

… 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).

NOTRE DAME AMONG RECENT WINS LEADERS
Notre Dame has won 190 games over the last eight seasons (23.8 victories per year), which stands as the ninth-most wins of any school in the country during that time.

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 105 of their last 114 games (.921) at the 11,418-seat Joyce Center, including a current 12-game winning streak. Notre Dame also has a 63-7 (.900) 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 255-70 (.785) 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, averaging 6,475 fans for their seven home games, including a season-high 8,574 fans on Jan. 13 vs. fourth-ranked Connecticut. According to the latest unofficial national attendance rankings compiled by the Wisconsin Sports Information Office (as of Jan. 19), Notre Dame ranks 11th 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, 2003.

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 five seasons.

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 (Saturday) 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 Virginia Tech, Villanova and Rutgers games on a same-day, tape-delayed basis at 7 p.m. (ET).

Furthermore, the Jan. 13 BIG EAST matchup between Notre Dame and two-time defending national champion Connecticut was televised by Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) with College Sports Television (CSTV) picking up the broadcast and airing it nationally.

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 on a same-day, tape-delayed basis beginning at 10 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: #23/25 VILLANOVA
Notre Dame returns home Saturday to take on No. 23/25 Villanova in a noon (ET) tipoff at the Joyce Center. The game will be broadcast on a regional basis as part of the BIG EAST Conference television package, with Madison Square Garden (MSG) Network, Fox Sports Net Florida and New England Sports Network (NESN) airing the game live. The contest will be shown in South Bend on a tape-delayed basis Saturday at 7 p.m. (ET) on WHME-TV (Channel 46).

The Irish are 12-6 all-time against the Wildcats, including a 5-1 mark at home. Villanova will be the seventh Top 25 opponent for Notre Dame this season < the=”” irish=”” are=”” 3-3=”” against=”” ranked=”” foes=”” thus=”” far=”” (2-0=”” at=”” the=”” joyce=”” center).=””>

Villanova (13-3, 3-2 BIG EAST) has surged into the national rankings this year on the strength of an early-season 10-game winning streak that was highlighted by a win at New Mexico in the title game of the UNM Tournament. Success has been mixed for the Wildcats in conference play, although Villanova did hand No. 18 Miami its only loss of the season, a 58-55 verdict back on Jan. 7.

The Wildcats are off this week following a 62-51 win at Seton Hall on Jan. 17. Sophomore guard Liad Suez led Villanova with 19 points, the eighth time this season she has led the team in scoring.

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. 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;=”” notre=”” dame=”” lunch=”” boxes=”” to=”” the=”” first=”” 1,000=”” fans=”” western=”” night;=”” notre=”” dame=”” lunch=”” boxes=”” to=”” the=”” first=”” 1,000=””>