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No. 24 Florida State’s high-octane offense visits No. 7 Notre Dame

GAME 20 NO. 24 FLORIDA STATE AT NO. 7 NOTRE DAME
WHEN: THURSDAY, JAN. 26 | 8 PM ET
WHERE: SOUTH BEND, IN | PURCELL PAVILION
WATCH: RSN/ACCNX
LISTEN: NOTRE DAME RADIO NETWORK | CLICK HERE
NOTES: ND NOTES
SOCIAL: @NDWBB | #GOIRISH
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — If you’re a big fan of defensive showdowns, this may not be the game for you.

On Thursday, the ACC’s top two offenses will clash at Purcell Pavilion as No. 24 Florida State (18-4, 7-2) visits No. 7 Notre Dame (16-2, 7-1). The teams average 85.8 and 79.7 points per game, respectively. The Irish are 11-1 all-time and 4-0 at home against the Seminoles, but earning a victory in the mid-week context will be anything but easy. 

The Seminoles are led by arguably the nation’s best freshman, guard Ta’Niya Latson. The Miami native has won nine of the 11 ACC Rookie of the Week honors, which is currently tied for the most in conference history. Latson is posting 23.6 points every time she takes the floor. That mark ranks sixth nationally. 

But Notre Dame has been up to the task of limiting explosive players before, holding six of eight conference opponents to fewer than 60 points. No one has topped 63.

“[Defense] was a point of emphasis coming into the season,” said Niele Ivey, Karen and Kevin Family Head Coach. “After losing Maya [Dodson], I knew we needed to be better individual defenders. I’m really proud of where we are at this point. That’s a great stat for us. I try to emphasize it to the team to be positive and show what we are doing well.”

When it comes to scoring baskets of their own, the Irish are down 3-point specialist Dara Mabrey for the first full game of her Irish career. The New Jersey guard suffered a torn ACL and tibial plateau fracture in the early moments of Sunday’s game against Virginia, prematurely ending her Notre Dame career. 

“I think the team did a great job of keeping their composure during the game,” Ivey said. “It was very emotional for everybody to see their sister go down and for me to see my player and leader go down. 

“They were off Monday, so we all had a chance to wrap our arms around her. Yesterday was our first practice without her. I thought it went well. I had to put people in different situations, but you never can replace somebody like Dara. Everyone just has to try to do a little bit more, and I expect them to do that.”

A new starter has not been named. Sophomore Sonia Citron was hot from deep against the Hoos, sinking six of her seven attempts on the day. She is averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. While shooting from behind the arc is not necessarily their specialty, Olivia Miles, Maddy Westbeld and Cassandre Prosper have shown they can be a threat in that area on any given day. 

Florida State-Notre Dame tips off at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised regionally. Click here to watch.