Jan. 6, 2018

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 2 University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team will go for its eighth straight win on Sunday, Jan. 7, when the Irish travel to Atlanta to battle (RV/RV) Georgia Tech. Sunday’s matinee contest will get underway at 2 p.m. ET and stream live on ACCN Extra.

Notre Dame (14-1, 3-0) boasts an unblemished record of 8-0 all-time vs Georgia Tech (12-4, 1-2), with a 4-0 record inside McCamish Pavilion.

WHO’S HOT
There is no hotter Irish shooter right now than Marina Mabrey. The New Jersey native has posted back-to-back games of 20-plus points for the first time this season, averaging 21.5 points on 60.0 percent shooting (15-of-25). The junior has also been getting it done from beyond the arc in the two-game stretch, converting 7-of-14 from deep.

Mabrey tallied 14 of her 21 points in the first half vs Miami on Jan. 4, and achieved a season best 22 points at Wake Forest on Dec. 31.

Due to the recent production surge, Mabrey ranks in the top-15 in seven different statistical categories in ACC play only: ninth in scoring (13.1), 12th in FG% (.529), seventh in assists (5.7), 11th in free-throw percentage (.842), sixth in three-pointers made per game (3.0), 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) and ninth in defensive rebounds (5.0).

ASSISTING IN THE WIN
Both Mabrey and Young have seen an increase as of late in their respective assist production. In fact, Mabrey has dished out at least five assists in five straight games, including a season high of seven vs Miami on Jan. 4. Mabrey has risen her assist per game average from 2.5 to 3.6 in that span. The junior currently ranks third in the league with her 5.7 assists per game in ACC games only. She now ranks 14th overall with her 3.6 season average.

Meanwhile, Young has recorded back-to-back games in which she has tied her career high of five assists. Young is averaging 4.3 assists per game during league play, which ranks 11th.

FIGHTING THROUGH ADVERSITY
After Lili Thompson‘s injury during the Dec. 31 Wake Forest matchup, the Fighting Irish are left with seven scholarship players and three walk-ons.

“This has been unprecedented,” Karen & Kevin Keyes Head Coach Muffet McGraw said. “To overcome the hurdles we’ve had to, and the mental toughness we’ve needed to handle this adversity. It hasn’t changed our focus and it hasn’t changed our goals. We’re still competing for a national championship – that’s what we want. It’s been hard, but it teaches you so many valuable lessons about life. Things aren’t always going to go your way. You have to be able to handle the bumps in the road.”

CAREER VS THE YELLOW JACKETS
Two current Irish in particular have found much success against Georgia Tech, for both Ogunbowale and Mabrey average double-digit points against the conference foe. Ogunbowale leads the way with 12.3 points per game against Tech while Mabrey follows right behind with her 11.3 points per game average. Mabrey has recorded the biggest single-game between the two, going off for 25 points against Georgia Tech at home last February.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH
Georgia Tech enters with a 12-4 record overall and a 1-2 mark in ACC play. The Yellow Jackets nearly upset No. 3 Louisville, falling 74-71, in the conference opener. Georgia Tech then defeated Clemson 66-33 at home before succumbing to Syracuse on the road via 88-77.

Francesa Pan (13.9 ppg) and Zaire O’Neil (10.6 ppg) both average double-digit points for the Yellow Jackets. Both have increased their scoring averages in conference play as Pan is averaging 17.0 points, while O’Neil is at 15.0. In addition, Georgia Tech’s shooting percentages have gone up over the last three games as well, as their .464 three-point field goal percentage leads the ACC and their .464 shooting percentage ranks second.

Lastly, Georgia Tech gets to the free-throw line early and often, ranking fourth in the nation in attempts (359) and 19^th in makes (228).

–ND–