| NCAA Bridgeport Regional: | #5 Seed Notre Dame |
|---|---|
| Where: | Bridgeport, CT | Total Mortgage Arena |
| Listen: | 99.9 WQLQ-FM | ND Radio Network |
| Notes: | ND Notes |
| Social: | @NDWBB |
| Sweet 16: | #1 seed NC State |
| When: | Saturday, March 26 | 11:30 am ET |
| Watch: | ESPN |
| Elite 8: | #2 seed UConn or #3 seed Indiana |
| When: | Monday, March 28 | TBD |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 18 Notre Dame women’s basketball team (18-5, 9-3) returns home to the friendly confines of Purcell Pavilion for a Thursday night showdown against the Miami Hurricanes (12-9, 5-6). The Fighting Irish will put their undefeated 11-0 streak inside Purcell on the line and continue to push for not only a top-four seed in the ACC Tournament but the NCAA tournament as well. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET, airing live on Marquee Network/Bally Sports. For a complete list of networks carrying the game, click here.
Notre Dame is 22-5 all-time against Miami, with a 10-2 mark at home.
Thursday’s matchup also marks the program’s annual Play4Kay Pink Game. Ushers will be handing out special pink bracelets/glow sticks during pregame. At halftime, cancer survivors will be escorted around the court by the Notre Dame football team during a special performance/tribute.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
What a huge four-game homestand for the Irish to kick off February and they certainly delivered. Notre Dame knocked off Syracuse, Boston College, No. 3 NC State and (RV) Virginia Tech, improving to 11-0 at home this season– its best start since the 2017-18 national championship season (they went 15-0 at home).
In terms of undefeated ACC teams at home, it’s just Notre Dame and Louisville (11-0). In terms of other P5’s: Michigan in the B1G, South Carolina in the SEC and Arizona in the Pac-12.
Which Irish led the way during the 4-game home sweep? Olivia Miles averaged an impressive 21.0 points on 50.8 shooting, plus 43.5 percent from three. She was also a perfect 12-for-12 from the line. Maya Dodson averaged 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds, while Sonia Citron averaged 10.5 points and 8.0 boards.
IN THE NET + BRACKETOLOGY
In the updated NET rankings, ND currently sits at No. 14. It ranks as the 3rd best in the ACC behind No. 2 NC State and No. 4 Louisville. Against the NET top-25, the Irish are 3-2. Against the top-50 they are 4-3 and against the top-100 they are 13-5. Thus no losses outside the NET top-100.
In the latest ESPN Bracketology report, the big win over No. 3 NC State launched the Irish into a top-4 seed and into hosting 1st and 2nd rounds conversation.
5 WEAPONS – ANY GIVEN DAY
The Irish currently have five players averaging double-figures, all between 15 and 10, really showcasing the depth of this year’s team. In terms of all Power-Five schools, only one other program can claim that they have five averaging double figures as well – Syracuse.
Notre Dame has done a great job spreading the wealth, leading the ACC and ranking 14th in the nation in assists/game (17.5). They have twice this season dished out 30+.
DODSON PLAYING HER WAY INTO ACC DPOTY CONVO
Her teammates might joke she’s the grandma of the team but the emphasis was on the first half of the word – Grand. Dodson was the MVP in the win over No. 3 NC State on Feb. 1 – recording a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, all while putting All-American Elissa Cunane in foul trouble for most of the game and at bay with just 13 points.
Dodson got emotional in post-game presser, “I lead by example, so everytime I go out there, everytime I’m in front of these fans, I want to show how much passion and hard work and appreciation we have for them. Last year I wasn’t able to play. No matter how much I’m hurting, I got to go out there and play. This means so much for me.”
Then two nights later, Dodson made one of the top-scorers in the ACC and a LIsa Leslie Award finalist, Elizabeth Kitley, a non-factor – holding her to 10 points under her season average.
WHO’S HOT?!
The answer – Maya Dodson. She’s totaled five double-doubles on the season and they all have come in the last eight games. Furthermore, two have been 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles. Not to mention, she’s registered double-digit points 10 times over the last 11 games.
Next, there’s Olivia Miles. She’s riding a career best 7-game double-digit scoring streak, enjoying the best stretch of her young career at the right time of the season.
In addition, Miles is averaging 16.1 ppg in ACC play – which ranks 5th in the league. She’s shooting 49.0 percent in ACC play, which ranks 4th.
MILES ATTRACTING EYEBALLS AND WATCH LISTS
Within a week span, Miles played herself onto two prestigious watch lists. First it was the Nancy Lieberman Award top-10, recognizing the best 10 point guards this season. Shortly after, she was named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, recognizing the top-25 players in the country, regardless of position.
Notre Dame’s point guard ranks second in the NATION in assists per game as a FRESHMAN, averaging 7.2. However, Miles is more than just stylish assists and great vision, she’s a dynamic playmaker.
Miles leads the team in scoring (14.2), leads the team in steals (1.8) and just so happens to reel in 6.1 boards/game.
Miles and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark are the only players in the country averaging at least 14 points / 6 rebounds / 7 assists. She simply does it all.
And by the way, she boasts seven double-doubles on the year, which ranks 4th in the ACC and 2nd among all Division I freshmen. And of those seven, one of them is a triple-double, as Miles became just the 2nd Irish freshman in program history to do so.
THE DUTCHESS OF DIMES
The top freshman passer in the country is putting up assist numbers the program has rarely seen. Miles’ 7.2 apg would finish 4th all-time, with the top-three spots currently belonging to:
1. Mary Gavin 8.7 1987-88
2. Mary Gavin 7.9 1986-87
3. Lindsay Allen 7.6 2016-17
The most total assists in a season belong to Lindsay Allen at 282 (2016-17).
The highest assist average for a freshman at ND was 4.5 by Mary Gavin in 1984-85.
Miles boasts 5 double-digit assist performances on the year. All other players in the ACC have combined for one.
5X ACC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Guard Sonia Citron claimed ACC Freshman of the Week 4 times in the first 6 weeks of play, and now boasts 5 on the year, making her a contender for ACC Freshman of the Year. Citron looks to challenge 2019 alumna Brianna Turner who set the program record with six ACC FOTW honors. Going back into the program’s Big East days, both Jacqueline Batteast (01-02) and Alicia Ratay (99-00) were each six-time winners as well.
ACC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR RACE
When it comes to Freshman-Only ACC rankings — Citron ranks 2nd in scoring, 1st in rebounding and 3rd in assists. No other freshman in the league ranks in the top-3 in all 3 categories. In fact, Citron has the highest PTS+REB+AST/Game of any ACC freshman.
PTS+REB+AST/GAME Among ACC Freshman
1. Sonia Citron – 19.5
2. Shayeann Day-Wilson – 19.5
3. Maria Gakdeng – 15.4
FRESHMEN DUO SENSATION
Therefore, Notre Dame doesn’t just have one, but two super freshmen in Citron and Miles who will be the building blocks for years to come.
ESPN Women’s Hoops put both Miles and Citron on their midseason top-10 freshman list. Miles was ranked No. 2, while Citron checked in at No. 6. Notre Dame was the only program with two freshmen on the list.
In fact, Notre Dame is the only Power-Five school with two freshmen averaging double figures. Furthermore, there’s only one other school in Division I with 2 freshmen averaging at least 11 ppg – Pacific – Anaya James and Elizabeth Elliot.
A 6-1 versatile guard, Citron does it all for Coach Ivey and is arguably the toughest player on the team. She’s averaging an impressive 11.2 points while ranking 2nd on the team in rebounds (6.2), 3rd in assists (2.0) and 2nd in steals (1.4).
Sonia has become ND’s best rebounding guard with 6.2 boards/game. She’s reeling in 7.1 rebounds/game in ACC play, which ranks 10th in the league. Her 5.4 defensive boards/game in ACC play ranks 6th.
Then there’s Olivia Miles, who has already been detailed above. Ultimately, Miles ranks in the top-15 in the ACC in 6 different stat categories: Scoring, FG%, Assists, Steals, A/TO Ratio and Defensive Rebounds. Best of any Irish player.
ND’s 2 freshmen are its top two in Defensive-Rebounds/Game — Miles (5.5) & Citron (4.5). Both rank in the ACC in the top-10. The two are also the team’s top two steal getters as Miles averages 1.8 while Citron checks in with 1.4.
All-in-all, there are only 3 freshmen in the entire country averaging at least 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and 1 steal, and two belong to ND. The other is Harvard’s Harmoni Turner.
SPARKPLUG SAMMIE B
Coach Ivey called Sam Brunelle her sparkplug after the Syracuse win on Jan. 27 and she’s certainly not wrong. Brunelle has recorded five double-digit scoring performances in the last nine games.
Sam is averaging 10.1 ppg in ACC play, shooting a hot 50.0 percent from the field.
The Virginia native continues to be extremely efficient from two-point range, converting 37-of-57 (.649) from two over the last 12 games. Furthermore, she’s 60.9 percent from two on the season, which leads all Irish players.
Sam had a gritty performance in win over No. 3 State, tallying eight points before taking a nasty bump in the 2nd quarter in which she hurt both her head and leg. She later came back in the 2nd half and still found a way to finish in double figures.
Against Syracuse on Jan. 27, Sam produced 15 points, a season best 6 rebounds and tied her season highs in assists (3) and blocks (3).
HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS
Kudos to Coach Ivey and her staff and their ability to stress certain halftime adjustments. The third quarter has been Notre Dame’s best all year, outscoring its opposition by over 120 points! The gap currently sits at 490-368. In points per quarter, it’s 21.3-16.0.
— ND —