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Notre Dame to host UVA for Sunday afternoon showdown

GAME 19 VIRGINIA AT NO. 7 NOTRE DAME
WHEN: SUNDAY, JAN. 22 | 2 PM ET
WHERE: SOUTH BEND, IN | PURCELL PAVILION
WATCH: ACCN
LISTEN: NOTRE DAME RADIO NETWORK | CLICK HERE
NOTES: ND NOTES
SOCIAL: @NDWBB | #GOIRISH
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After health and safety protocols kept Virginia (14-5, 3-5) and Notre Dame (15-2, 6-1) from facing off last season, the Irish and the Cavaliers will renew the ACC series on Sunday. Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey and Co. are seeking a fourth consecutive ACC win, and the seventh-ranked group is currently tied with Duke for the top spot in the conference. 

After starting the season 12-0, the Cavaliers have lost five of their last seven. They will be without the services of two of their three best players on Sunday. A Jan. 8 knee injury ended top guard Mir McLean’s year, so Virginia will be heavily reliant on leading scorer and forward Camryn Taylor for buckets. The senior posts 12.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

A more recent development involves former Irish forward turned UVA graduate student Sam Brunelle. The Virginia native was ejected from Thursday night’s game against Florida State. By rule, she is suspended for the following game. Brunelle is averaging 11.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. 

Despite the roster setbacks, Virginia is undoubtedly much improved from last season. The Hoos rank second in the ACC in offensive rebounds (15.1 per game) and are holding teams under 59 points per contest on the year. The Irish are pacing the league in the defensive rebounding category, creating a very interesting matchup on the boards. 

“The pieces that they have, they play with a lot of confidence,” Ivey said. “They have good depth and with Taylor being that central focus in the paint, she’s so tough and does a great job.”

Notre Dame’s offense has sputtered a bit lately after a fiery start. Both Olivia Miles and Maddy Westbeld are regularly posting double-digit points, but both Dara Mabrey and Sonia Citron are in scoring slumps. UVA leads the ACC in 3-point defense (25.1), likely presenting a challenge for the two behind the arc. 

Virginia-Notre Dame tips off on the ACC Network at 2 p.m. ET. The Irish are 8-3 all-time against the Hoos, including a 3-0 mark at home.