Jan. 4, 2018
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NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The No. 2/2 University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team rallied to defeat (RV/RV) Miami, 83-76, on Thursday evening at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
Arike Ogunbowale shone bright in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points in the period and leading the Irish (14-1, 3-0) to a 3-0 ACC start and their fifth straight victory over the Hurricanes (11-4, 1-1).
“We showed a lot of resilience early on,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Women’s Basketball Head Coach Muffet McGraw said. “Nailing it down at the free throw line and getting the ball to Arike late was key.”
How It Happened
Notre Dame entered the second quarter at a 22-18 deficit, but the Irish quickly opened an 8-2 run to even the score and eventually take a 28-26 lead at the 6:45 mark of the period. Led by Mabrey’s nine points in the quarter and 14 in the half, Notre Dame took a 40-36 advantage into intermission.
The Irish went on a 6-0 run midway through the third period to take a 55-50 lead over Miami, but a quick 5-0 response by the Hurricanes ended the third period knotted at 55-55.
Arike Ogunbowale stepped up in the final quarter, scoring nine of the team’s 11 points from the 8:08 mark to 4:29, giving the Irish a 68-63 lead. Ultimately, Ogunbowale’s 12 points in the period were enough to send the Irish past the Hurricanes, 83-76.
Player of the Game
Arike Ogunbowale turned in the fourth dominant performance of her career against the Hurricanes, collecting 20 points with six rebounds on Thursday. Twelve of Ogunbowale’s points came in the fourth quarter, when she went 3-for-5 from the field and made six free throws.
Ogunbowale tallied a career-high 12 made free throws, finishing 12-13 from the line. With 20 points, Ogunbowale notched her 11th game of 20-plus points this season. It was her 15th consecutive game of double-digit points in 2017 and 24th straight in her career dating back to last season.
In four career contests against Miami, Ogunbowale has averaged 12.8 points.
Stat of the Game
Thursday’s game marked the third straight contest in which two players recorded 20-plus points. The duo of Marina Mabrey (21) and Arike Ogunbowale (20) has accomplished the feat in back-to-back contests after doing so against Wake Forest this past Sunday.
Notes
- Notre Dame now leads the all-time series versus Miami, 20-4, including a 9-2 mark at home.
- Irish extend their all-time ACC record to 65-2, including a 34-0 mark at home.
- Irish have now won 44 consecutive conference games at home.
- Seven Irish players recorded points in the contest.
- Mabrey has averaged 14.3 points per game in four career games against Miami.
- Westbeld recorded her fifth straight game with double-digit points, totaling 10 points.
- Mabrey recorded her 11th game of the season with double-figure points and fifth in the last six games.
Up Next
The Irish hit the road to Atlanta where they’ll challenge Georgia Tech on Sunday, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m. ET on ACCN Extra.
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