Feb. 9, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the second time in 15 days, Notre Dame will welcome a nationally-ranked BIG EAST Conference opponent to the Joyce Center when No. 16/18 Boston College comes calling for a 1 p.m. (EST) contest on Sunday. The two combatants are tied for second place in the conference standings, and with just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, Sunday’s winner will hold a distinct advantage when the final BIG EAST Championship seeds are determined.
Notre Dame (14-7, 8-2 BIG EAST) picked up its fourth consecutive victory, and 12th in the last 15 games with a 68-56 triumph at Pittsburgh last Tuesday night. Junior guard Alicia Ratay scored a game-high 21 points and freshmen Jacqueline Batteast (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Teresa Borton (10 points, 10 rebounds) both collected double-doubles for the Irish, who became the 50th team in NCAA history to record 500 career victories.
Boston College (17-4, 8-2) has had eight days to rest for Sunday’s game following a 75-62 victory at home over Georgetown on Feb. 2. Freshman guard Clare Droesch came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points, while senior forward Nicole Conway registered 20 points, eight rebounds and seven steals for the Eagles, who have won 14 of their last 16 games. In fact, the only teams to solve BC in the last two months have been nationally-ranked foes Virginia Tech and Connecticut, both on the road.
The Eagles have thrived despite losing all-BIG EAST standout Becky Gottstein for the season with multiple stress fractures. In her stead, Droesch has led the team with 12 ppg. and a .507 three-point percentage. Conway is hot on her heels at 11.2 ppg. and collects a team-best 5.8 rpg.
Cathy Inglese is in her 16th season as a collegiate head coach (263-183 overall), and her ninth season at Boston College (143-109). She is 2-6 in her coaching career against Notre Dame, and 0-4 at the Joyce Center.
– ND –