Nov. 7, 2015

Recap | Box Score

2015-16 University of Notre Dame Women’s Basketball
Notre Dame vs. Wayne State
November 7, 2015
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center – Notre Dame, Indiana

Notre Dame Head Coach Muffet McGraw

Opening Statement…
“I thought we did some good things today. We struggled a bit on offense when Lindsay [Allen] went out of the game, I think that’s something we have to work on. Defensively, we could have done a little better. I thought we rebounded the ball well, and we got the break going. It was a good first game for us. We have a lot of things to work on and this game showed us some of those things today.”

On play between the first vs. second half…
“In the first half, you’re in your uniform for the first time; you’re excited to be out there, and I think we were all trying a little too hard. There were some easy shots available that we weren’t looking for. We were trying to force it inside because we thought we had an advantage in there, and we passed up some shots because of that. In the second half we were relaxed and played more freely.”

On the freshman class…
“Both freshmen played really well. It was great to have them both out there. Arike [Ogunbowale] came into the game and gave us a huge lift in the first half. She did some really good things and drove the ball well. Then, in the second half, Marina [Mabrey] came alive. I thought they each played well and got a lot of scoring, which is what we are expecting from both of them. They can help us on the boards, they can both pass, and they can both score. Defensively, we are really improving with those two. I am excited about the prospects of the future for both of them.”

Brianna Turner – Sophomore – Forward

On her easy baskets today, and the passes she received…
“Coach always focuses on inside-out, and our guards did a great job of looking for me inside. It made it easy for me to just make layups.”

On the inside game…
“We did well; of course we missed a few easy buckets, but overall we did a good job. Even the guards were driving a lot, and they got to the foul line. It was really a collective effort inside.”

On the freshman class…
“They both impressed me with their personalities, the way they played on the court. They look great. I’m excited to play with them for the next three years and watch them grow.”

Arike Ogunbowale – Freshman – Guard

On what she was able to take advantage of…
“Like Coach mentioned, my strength is getting to the basket. I could have driven more; I had a couple of poor shots. I know in the future I need to keep driving to the basket. It’ll be harder for them to stop me, especially if they have smaller guards. I can take advantage of that.”

On the good and bad of her game today…
“I think I ran the floor pretty well. There were other people there for finish but I knew if there was a miss, I would be there. I drove a couple times in the first half. The second half I did not drive as much and I probably should have. Overall, I think I did a solid job.”

On first game jitters…
“There is confidence. Marina and I both have confidence. Everyone gets nervous. But we know coach recruited us for a reason and we can’t really show that we are nervous or show that we are scared. We just have to go out there as though we’ve been on the team for years.”

Marina Mabrey – Freshman – Guard

On lob pass from older sister Michaela Mabrey that gave Notre Dame 88 points (and McDonald’s Big Macs for Purcell Pavilion crowd)…
“We actually used to do that one a lot in high school so I was expecting her to throw it. After the play she said ‘I knew you were going to catch that.’ I was ready for it.”

On what she was able to take advantage of…
“When the ball is on the other side of the court I like to move around a lot. It leads to openings for me and that was a big part of the game for me. I think I need to work on being the point and knowing where everyone else needs to be. I know where I am supposed to be but I need to work on knowing where everyone else needs to be.”

On team’s defensive effort…
“Coach is always saying take a charge, take a charge. I think we’re starting to see it now a little bit more. It’s easier when you’re in and can be ready to help as opposed to being late.”