Dec. 12, 2003
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-4)
vs. Dayton Flyers (2-5)
The Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at 1 p.m. ET.
The Site: Joyce Center (11,418) in Notre Dame, Ind.
The Tickets: Still available by calling the Notre Dame Ticket Office (574-631-7356).
The Radio Plans: All Notre Dame games are broadcast live on WDND-AM (ESPN Radio 1620) and/or WNDV-AM (1490) in South Bend with Sean Stires (play-by-play) and Shawn Lewallen (analysis). These broadcasts also are available through the Notre Dame athletics web site at www.und.com.
Real-Time Statistics: Live in-game statistics are available for the Dayton game through the Notre Dame (www.und.com) athletics web site.
Web Site: Notre Dame (www.und.com), Dayton (www.daytonflyers.com).
NOTRE DAME RETURNS HOME TO FACE FAMILIAR OPPONENT
After playing seven times in the first 23 days of the season, Notre Dame is slated to take the court just twice in the next three weeks. The first of those two games is set for Saturday art 1 p.m. (ET) when the Irish play host to Dayton at the Joyce Center. The Flyers are old acquaintances for Notre Dame, as the two teams were sisters in both the North Star and Midwestern Collegiate conferences back in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Irish (3-4) last played on Dec. 7, when they dropped an 85-74 decision at Washington. Notre Dame battled the Huskies the entire way, taking a pair of one-point leads late in the first half and remained within striking distance all afternoon long, but UW went on a 12-4 run midway through the second half to hand the Irish a difficult setback.
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast led Notre Dame with 19 points and four blocks, while sophomore guard Megan Duffy continued her recent surge with 17 points and a career-high nine assists. As a team, the Irish turned the ball over just 11 times and nailed seven of 14 three-point attempts (.500), but Washington shot .471 overall and won the rebounding battle, 43-33, to preserve its win.
Dayton (2-5) broke a five-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 70-58 win at home over crosstown rival Wright State. Katie Butler came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points, leading a trio of Flyers in double figures.
Emily Williams leads UD in scoring (11.1 ppg.), while Stefanie Miller is second in scoring (9.7 ppg.) and tops in assists (6.1 apg.). Cyndi Stull adds a team-high 9.0 rebounds per game for Dayton.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series with the Flyers, 20-6, including a 9-3 mark at the Joyce Center. This series is the second-most frequent in Irish history behind the 28-game rivalry with Marquette.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE FIGHTING IRISH
Coming into this season, one of the bigger question marks surrounding Notre Dame was its perimeter play. The Irish figured to count on their post offense in the early part of the year while their outside shooting developed to fill in the void left by the graduation of Alicia Ratay. Yet, through the first month of the season, it has been the Notre Dame backcourt that has sparkled while the posts have had difficulty getting on track.
Sophomore Megan Duffy (13.3 ppg., team-high 5.1 apg., .571 3FG%) is in her first season as the everyday point guard for the Irish and she already is showing signs of being a key cog in the Notre Dame offensive arsenal. After averaging only three points and 2.3 assists per game last year, the Dayton, Ohio, native has more than quadrupled her scoring output and she owns a team-best 1.50 assist/turnover ratio. In addition, she is showing offensive diversity, knocking down 16 of 28 three-pointers this season and posting a career-high 25 points on Dec. 4 vs. Wisconsin. Her ball handling skills have not diminished, as she handed out a career-high nine assists in Dec. 7 at Washington.
Senior captain Le’Tania Severe (8.4 ppg., 3.3 apg.) has slid over to the shooting guard position in place of Ratay and has filled in admirably thus far. While not putting up the three-point numbers Ratay had in her remarkable career, Severe is getting her points as a slasher, driving to the basket and creating havoc for opposing defenses. She also leads the Irish with 1.9 steals per game and has been a vital piece of Notre Dame’s transition game. She collected a season-high 14 points in the loss to Colorado, earning a spot on the WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team, before adding 13 points (on six of 10 shooting) on Nov. 29 at third-ranked Tennessee.
Senior guard Jeneka Joyce (6.0 ppg., team-high .625 3FG%) also has been a pleasant surprise this season. After missing more than 20 months with recurring leg injuries, Joyce returned to action Nov. 21 vs. Valparaiso and promptly drained all three of her three-point attempts. She then knocked down three more treys to begin the Michigan State game and has consistently buried at least two treys in all five games she has played this season. She now ranks fourth on the school’s career charts in three-point percentage (.397).
Junior forward and preseason All-American Jacqueline Batteast (15.9 ppg., 7.4 rpg., 2.0 bpg., two double-doubles) has lived up to her accolades this season, ranking among the BIG EAST leaders in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. She was named to the WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team on Nov. 15 after a superb weekend that included a career-high 27 points against 22nd-ranked Auburn. She then piled up back-to-back double-doubles vs. No. 20 Colorado (13p, 10r) and Valparaiso (15p, 10r) before logging team bests of 16 points and seven caroms at No. 3 Tennessee and 19 points at Washington. She now has 52 career double-figure scoring games, 21 career double-doubles and needs only 86 points to become the 20th Notre Dame player to score 1,000 career points.
Junior Katy Flecky (7.3 ppg., 2.8 rpg.) and sophomore Courtney LaVere (10.4 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) also have made important contributions at times this season. Flecky scored 17 points in the season-opening win over No. 22 Auburn, burying a trio of three-pointers in the win. However, she suffered a sprained right ankle in practice on Dec. 6 and will miss the next 2-3 weeks. Meanwhile, LaVere, a freshman All-American last season, has bounced back from an early-season bout of foul trouble. She tied Batteast for team-high scoring honors with 12 points at Michigan State before rising up and carding season highs of 22 points and nine rebounds vs. Wisconsin. She then added nine points and nine rebounds at Washington and is averaging 8.3 rebounds in her last three games.
A QUICK LOOK AT DAYTON
With a veteran head coach at the helm and a core group of experienced players, Dayton is looking to make big strides in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season. The Flyers have seven players and two starters back from last year’s crew which posted a 14-14 record and finished tied for fourth in the A-10 West Division.
This season has not started off as UD had hoped, with the Flyers posting a 2-5 record coming into Saturday’s contest at Notre Dame. Dayton opened the year on a high note, squeezing past Boise State, 73-71 in the opening round of the Air Force Classic in Colorado Springs. However, the Flyers bowed to Texas-Pan American, 63-57, in the title game of the tournament the next evening. That would begin a five-game losing streak for Dayton, with four of those defeats coming by eight points or less.
The Flyers broke back into the win column on Tuesday with a 70-58 win over crosstown rival Wright State in the finale of a five-game homestand for UD. Katie Butler came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points, while Stefanie Miller tallied 13 points and Emily Williams chipped in with 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds for Dayton, which held a 48-30 rebounding advantage, which offset 28 Flyer turnovers.
Williams leads UD in scoring this season, averaging 11.1 points per game. Miller capably runs the point for the Flyers, averaging 9.7 points and 6.1 assists per game along with a team-high 11 three-point field goals. Cyndi Stull comes off the bench to log 6.7 points and a team-high 9.0 rebounds per game, with Angela Cape and Amber Peterink each contributing 6.7 rebounds per night.
Jim Jabir is in his first season as the head coach at Dayton and his 17th season as a collegiate mentor. He previously had stops at Buffalo State (1986-87), Siena (1987-90), Marquette (1990-96) and Providence (1996-2002) and has a career record of 222-228 (.493).
THE NOTRE DAME-DAYTON SERIES
Notre Dame and Dayton are no strangers to one another, having met regularly in the 1980s and 1990s when both were members of the North Star and Midwestern Collegiate conferences. In fact, between 1985 and 1993, the Irish and Flyers played at least twice per season, adding a third meeting in the MCC Tournament on four occasions. However, the series has been dormant for the past nine years since Notre Dame left the MCC to join the BIG EAST Conference.
The Irish and Flyers have met 26 times on the hardwood, making this the second-most frequent rivalry in Notre Dame history (behind a 28-game series with Marquette). The Irish own a 20-6 series lead over Dayton, with those 20 victories tying for the third-most against one opponent in school history behind Marquette (24) and Detroit (22) and matching Loyola-Chicago (20) and Xavier (20). Notre Dame also has a 9-3 record against the Flyers at the Joyce Center, having seven of its last eight home games against UD.
Recently, the Irish have won five of their last six games in the series with Dayton, although the one loss still remains a sore spot with Notre Dame fans. The sixth-seeded Flyers upset the No. 3 seed Irish, 78-74 in the quarterfinals of the 1993 MCC Tournament which was being hosted by Notre Dame.
Close games have been quite common in the series, with nearly half (12) of the 26 games decided by eight points or less. Two contests have gone to overtime, both at the Joyce Center, making the Flyers the only team to take the Irish to an extra session twice at home. Notre Dame won both times: 68-64 in 1983 and 76-70 in double-OT in 1992.
THE LAST TIME NOTRE DAME AND DAYTON MET
Notre Dame went on a 21-6 run to open the second half, blowing open a tight ballgame and registering an 80-63 win over Dayton on Jan. 2, 1995, at the Joyce Center. The Irish led by just three points at halftime, despite shooting 53.3 percent (16-30) in the period. However, Letitia Bowen scored the first four points of the second half, and Beth Morgan later added seven consecutive points to help Notre Dame post the victory.
Katryna Gaither sparkled for the Irish, logging a double-double with game highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds along with five blocked shots. Morgan added 18 points and Bowen contributed 11 points for the Irish, who owned a sizeable 44-24 edge on the boards and forced 22 Dayton turnovers.
NOTRE DAME-DAYTON CONNECTIONS
- Notre Dame sophomore guard Megan Duffy is a native of Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from Chaminade-Julienne High School in 2002. She was a four-time all-state and all-city captain for CJHS, helping her squad win the 1999 state title and win regional crowns in ’99 and 2001, as well as the No. 1 ranking in the USA Today Super 25 poll early in the ’01-’02 season. Duffy’s high school coach, Frank Goldsberry, now serves as the director of women’s basketball operations at the University of Dayton.
- Duffy also spent six years playing in the Dayton Lady HoopStars AAU program which won three national championships (1996, 1998, 2000) and six consecutive Ohio state titles (1996-2001) during her career. She is one of six former HoopStars who will suit up for Saturday’s Notre Dame-Dayton game < the=”” others=”” all=”” play=”” for=”” ud=”” (leslie=”” burns,=”” lyndsey=”” dewitt,=”” stefanie=”” miller,=”” cyndi=”” stull=”” and=”” emily=”” williams).=”” all=”” six=”” players=”” reunited=”” last=”” summer=”” when=”” duffy=”” returned=”” home=”” and=”” the=”” group=”” convened=”” for=”” regular=”” pick-up=”” games.=””>
- Duffy and Dayton guard Emily Williams have another bond. They played on the same youth league team at the age of 10, and Williams’ father, Duane, coached Duffy on a number of occasions with various other teams.
- Duffy also has ties with Dayton forward Cyndi Stull. Both players suffered significant knee injuries during the 2001-02 season (Duffy in high school, Stull at UD) and both worked closely with Dayton team physician Dr. Tim Quinn during their rehabilitation.
- Flyer guards Stefanie Miller and Emily Williams attended Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, Ohio, the archrival of Duffy’s Chaminade-Julienne squad. The two teams met on several occasions during the players’ prep careers.
- Dayton head coach Jim Jabir should be no stranger to Notre Dame fans. Jabir formerly coached at Marquette (1990-96) and Providence (1996-2002) when they took on the Irish. In fact, when he leads UD onto the Joyce Center floor on Saturday, he will be the first head coach ever to lead three opposing teams into South Bend. Three other coaches have brought two different teams to town: Jane Albright (Northern Illinois and Wisconsin), Theresa Grentz (Rutgers and Illinois) and Jim Izard (DePaul and Indiana).
NOTRE DAME AGAINST THE ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE
Notre Dame is 54-17 (.761) all-time against the current members of the Atlantic 10 Conference, including a 24-7 (.774) mark at the Joyce Center. The majority of those games (58) have come against three A-10 schools (Dayton – 20-6; LaSalle – 4-5; Xavier – 20-3) that used to be members of the North Star Conference or Midwestern Collegiate Conference, the last two league stops for the Irish before they joined the BIG EAST Conference in time for the 1995-96 season.
Notre Dame has won its last seven games against current A-10 members, most recently downing Temple, 84-61, on Dec. 14, 2002 at the Joyce Center. Alicia Ratay led five Irish players in double figures with 17 points and Courtney LaVere nearly carded her first career double-double, winding up with 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Notre Dame’s defense was the story, forcing the Owls into 24 turnovers with 17 coming on Irish steals (five each by Jacqueline Batteast and Le’Tania Severe).
FOLLOWING THE NORTH STAR
Dayton is one of 10 former North Star Conference schools Notre Dame has played since it left the NSC to join the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now known as the Horizon League) in 1988. The Irish have a 105-23 (.820) record in the last 14 seasons against former North Star members, including a 1-0 mark this year with a win over Valparaiso.
Much of that post-NSC record was compiled when several North Star teams resurfaced alongside the Irish in the MCC. In fact, eight of Notre Dame’s 10 former North Star foes also squared off with the Irish in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference.
The Irish have won 17 of their last 18 games against former North Star members, a streak which pre-dates Notre Dame’s current membership in the BIG EAST Conference. The only NSC alum to defeat the Irish in that time is DePaul, which won by a 75-59 count on Dec. 11, 2002, in Chicago.
ON THIS DATE
The Irish have played on Dec. 13 six times in their history, posting a 4-2 (.667) record, including a 3-1 mark at home. The last time Notre Dame took the floor on this day was the 1997-98 season, when the Irish cruised past South Florida, 73-50 at the Joyce Center. Danielle Green posted her first career double-double with game highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds. while Ruth Riley grabbed 10 rebounds and Niele Ivey chipped in with a game-high eight assists. The Irish held the Bulls to 15 first-half points and forced 35 USF turnovers, registering 22 steals (seven each by Ivey and Mollie Peirick) and 11 blocked shots (seven by Riley) in the contest.
NO CUPCAKES FOR THE IRISH
Notre Dame is quickly learning how it rates against the rest of the nation’s elite programs. The Irish recently wrapped up a brutal stretch that included playing five of their first seven games away from home, with all five road contests coming against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in both major national polls. Notre Dame already has defeated No. 22 Auburn (77-64), lost a narrow overtime decision at No. 20 Colorado (67-63) after leading much of the way in that game, before falling at Michigan State (92-63), third-ranked Tennessee (83-59) and Washington (85-74). Both MSU and UW were receiving votes at tipoff, but now are ranked in the Top 25 < michigan=”” state=”” is=”” 25th=”” in=”” the=”” associated=”” press=”” poll,=”” while=”” washington=”” is=”” 23rd=”” in=”” the=”” coaches’=”” poll.=””>
The tough early-season Irish schedule has not gone unnoticed by the national media. The latest Sagarin ratings have pegged the Notre Dame docket as the third-toughest in the nation (through Dec. 11), while CollegeRPI.com has the Irish schedule ranked fifth-hardest in the land.
In actuality, all seven of Notre Dame’s non-conference road games are against teams that are presently ranked or receiving votes. The remaining out-of-conference road lineup includes trips to Colorado State (Dec. 29 – receiving votes) and Purdue (Jan. 4 – 8th in AP/10th in ESPN-USA Today).
IF NOTRE DAME WINS …
- Notre Dame will remain undefeated at home this season, moving to 3-0 at the Joyce Center.
- The Irish will improve to 55-17 (.764) all-time against the Atlantic 10 Conference, including a 25-7 (.781) mark at home.
- Notre Dame will pick up its 43rd non-conference home win in its last 45 tries and rise to 101-9 (.918) at the Joyce Center over the last nine seasons (1995-96 to present).
- Head coach Muffet McGraw will see her record at Notre Dame rise to 367-142 (.721) in 17 seasons under the Golden Dome. She also will watch her career ledger improve to 455-183 (.713) in 22 years at the college level.
- The Irish will raise their all-time record to 531-241 (.688) in 27 seasons of varsity competition.
RECAPPING THE WASHINGTON GAME
The Notre Dame women’s basketball team slipped to 3-4 this season with an 85-74 loss at Washington on Dec. 7 at Bank of America Arena in Seattle. The Irish were playing their fifth road game of the season, all against teams that were ranked or receiving votes at tipoff, and Notre Dame is now 1-4 in these contests. The loss also was just the second for the Irish in their last 12 games vs. Pac-10 Conference opposition.
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast led Notre Dame with 19 points and added season highs of five assists and four blocked shots. Sophomore point guard Megan Duffy turned in another solid performance with 17 points and a career-high nine assists, while junior center Teresa Borton, who hails from Yakima, Wash., had a successful homecoming with a season-high 11 points on five of eight shooting off the bench.
As a team, Notre Dame committed only 11 turnovers after logging just 10 giveaways Thursday night vs. Wisconsin. The Irish also continued their hot shooting from the perimeter, hitting seven of 14 three-point attempts, led by Duffy (3-5), senior guard Jeneka Joyce (2-3) and senior guard Monique Hernandez (2-2). However, Notre Dame’s downfall once again came on the boards, where the Irish were beaten, 43-33, with Washington collecting 24 second-chance points in the game.
The Huskies (5-0) shot the ball well all afternoon long, but Notre Dame nearly matched Washington shot for shot in the first half. For the first 10 minutes of the game, both teams were hitting better than 50 percent from the field, with the Huskies maintaining a precarious single-digit lead for much of the period. UW took its biggest lead of 25-17 when Lalum banked in a short jumper at the 8:17 mark.
However, the Irish fought back, whittling away at the deficit with a 9-2 run and eventually taking their first lead on Borton’s jumper from the right block with 2:10 to go in the half. But in a recurring theme throughout the day, Mendiola stepped forward when her team needed a boost, scoring the Huskies’ last nine points of the period, hitting a three-pointer on the right wing and a driving finger roll at the halftime horn to put UW ahead, 39-35.
The four-point margin held firm for the first four minutes of the second half, before Washington went on a 9-3 spurt to take a 54-44 lead with 14:21 remaining. Notre Dame stayed within striking distance as Duffy buried a three-pointer and sophomore forward Courtney LaVere followed with a pair of free throws at the 11:58 junction. The lead was still five when Duffy hit another trey midway through the period, making it a 59-54 game.
Then, UW’s Breanne Watson was fouled while trying a three-pointer on her team’s next possession and she made all three free throws. The Irish kept the deficit at eight points for the next three minutes, with Batteast driving in for a layup for a 69-61 margin with 7:32 to go. Notre Dame then blinked and Washington took advantage, going on a 12-4 run that was capped by Hicks’ free throw for an 81-65 lead at the 3:57 mark. The Irish never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
DUFFY NAMED BIG EAST CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore guard Megan Duffy was selected as the BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Duffy, who shared this week’s honor with Amber Jacobs of Boston College, wins the award for the first time in her career and she is the first Irish player to be chosen for this distinction since Alicia Ratay was tapped on Feb. 17, 2003.
Duffy turned in a pair of superb performances last week, averaging 21.0 points and 8.0 assists per game with a 3.2 assist/turnover ratio last week as Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin (82-64) and lost at Washington (85-74). In the win over Wisconsin on Dec. 4, Duffy scored a career-high 25 points and set new personal bests by making eight of 12 field goals and six of 10 three-pointers. She also had just one turnover and matched her career high with seven assists, a mark which would stand all of three days.
On Dec. 7 at Washington, Duffy tallied 17 points and dished out a career-best nine assists, but the Huskies fought off a stern Irish challenge to claim the victory. For the week, Duffy shot 56.5 percent from the floor (13 of 23) and 60 percent from three-point range (nine of 15).
In her last three games, Duffy has been a key factor for the Irish, averaging 18.7 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting .559 from the field (19 of 34) and .579 from beyond the arc (11 of 19).
BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES
Based on her play early this season, sophomore point guard Megan Duffy is making a strong case to be named the BIG EAST Conference Most Improved Player. Last season, the Dayton native averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 assists per game while still shaking off the rust caused by off-season knee surgery. She also struggled to find her shooting touch, hitting at a .242 clip from the floor and making only seven of 35 three-point attempts (.200).
Fast forward to this season, where Duffy has been an impact player from the outset. She is second on the team in scoring at 13.3 ppg., which more than quadruples her production from last year. However, her biggest improvement has come in her shooting numbers, where she’s connecting at a superb .508 rate (31-61), including a sharp .571 percentage (16-28) from the three-point line, with the latter figure leading the BIG EAST and ranking seventh in the nation. She’s also more than doubled the number of treys she made all of last year and after cracking double digits just twice in 2002-03 (career high was 12 points), she has four double-figure games this season, with all four surpassing her previous career best (led by a 25-point outburst on Dec. 4 vs. Wisconsin, where she shattered her career standard from beyond the arc, going six for 10 from downtown).
But lest we forget her primary duties at the point, Duffy is leading the Irish and ranking fourth in the BIG EAST with 5.14 assists per game, more than doubling last year’s production. She also has just 24 turnovers, giving her a healthy 1.50 assist/turnover ratio (tied for 10th in the BIG EAST). She has dished out at least six assists four times this year, including a career-high nine dimes in her most recent outing on Dec. 7 at Washington.
PROTECTING THE PILL
Notre Dame appears to have cured on its early-season problems < turnovers.=”” in=”” their=”” last=”” two=”” games,=”” the=”” irish=”” have=”” averaged=”” only=”” 10.5=”” turnovers,=”” including=”” a=”” season-low=”” 10=”” giveaways=”” vs.=”” wisconsin=”” on=”” dec.=”” 4.=”” at=”” the=”” same=”” time,=”” notre=”” dame=”” is=”” doing=”” a=”” better=”” job=”” of=”” distributing=”” the=”” basketball,=”” averaging=”” 21.5=”” assists=”” per=”” game=”” in=”” that=”” span.=”” that=”” works=”” on=”” to=”” a=”” crisp=”” 2.05=”” assist/turnover=”” ratio=”” to=”” begin=”” the=”” month=”” of=”” december=”” (43=”” assists,=”” 21=”” turnovers).=””>
DISTANCE LEARNING
One of the supposed question marks surrounding this year’s Notre Dame squad was its perimeter shooting. Through the first month of the season, the Irish have had an emphatic response to that question. Notre Dame leads the BIG EAST and ranks 10th nationally with a .442 three-point percentage, hitting 38 of 86 shots from beyond the arc. Senior guard Jeneka Joyce has been one of the primary perimeter producers, knocking down 10 of 16 treys for a team-best .625 three-point percentage (although she has not yet made enough field goals to qualify for statistical rankings). Sophomore guard Megan Duffy also has been a force on the outside, leading the BIG EAST and ranking seventh nationally with a .571 three-point percentage. Both players are averaging at least two three-point field goals per game, which constitutes the bulk of Notre Dame’s team average of 5.43 triples per game.
A TIME TO RE-JOYCE
Despite not having seen any meaningful action since March 17, 2002 at Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, senior guard Jeneka Joyce has looked very comfortable in her first five games this season. The Topeka, Kan., native missed Notre Dame’s two games at the WBCA Classic, but returned to action Nov. 21 vs. Valparaiso and promptly canned all three of her three-point attempts (including the last from nearly 25 feet out), finishing with nine points. Five nights later on Nov. 26 at Michigan State, Joyce nailed her first three three-point shots before missing her last two and again wound up with nine points. She is 10 of 16 from beyond the arc this season, good for a team-best .625 percentage, while averaging 6.0 points per game.
For her career, Joyce now ranks fourth in school history with a .397 three-point percentage and she also stands ninth with 58 career treys and 146 career three-point attempts.
BATTEAST CLOSING IN ON 1,000-POINT CLUB
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast needs only 86 points to become the 20th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Batteast already is one of only five Irish players to have scored 800 points in her first two seasons at Notre Dame and at her current 15.9 ppg. pace, she should reach the millennium milestone sometime in January. For her career, the South Bend native ranks sixth in school history with a 14.1 ppg. scoring average (914 points in 65 games).
HARDWARE HAUL
Although they didn’t come away with the trophy they wanted at the WBCA Classic, junior forward Jacqueline Batteast and senior guard Le’Tania Severe did receive individual honors as members of the WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team. Batteast averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two-game tournament, while shooting .529 from the field. Severe carded 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the tournament and posted a stellar .857 free throw percentage (12 of 14). It was the first career all-tournament team selection for both players.
IRISH APPEARING IN BOTH MAJOR NATIONAL POLLS
Notre Dame is receiving nine votes in the latest Associated Press poll after spending the first three weeks of this season in the AP Top 25 poll. The Irish were ranked 15th in the preseason AP poll, marking the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the Irish were tapped in the initial AP survey of the year.
Notre Dame also is earning three votes in the most recent ESPN/USA Today coaches poll after appearing in the Top 25 for the first three weeks of 2003-04. The Irish were pegged No. 16 in the preseason coaches poll, also the seventh time in eight years that they had shown up in the first ESPN/USA Today poll of the year.
Notre Dame has faced or will face six teams that are currently ranked in both major polls (No. 1/1 Connecticut, No. 2/2 Tennessee, No. 8/10 Purdue, No. 17/14 Colorado, No. 20/18 Virginia Tech and No. 23/20 Boston College). Four other teams are ranked in one of the two polls < no.=”” 24=”” auburn=”” and=”” no.=”” 25=”” michigan=”” state=”” in=”” the=”” ap=”” poll,=”” and=”” no.=”” 23=”” washington=”” and=”” no.=”” 25=”” rutgers=”” in=”” the=”” most=”” recent=”” espn/usa=”” today=”” coaches’=”” poll.=”” in=”” addition,=”” two=”” notre=”” dame=”” opponents=”” presently=”” are=”” receiving=”” votes=”” in=”” both=”” major=”” polls=”” this=”” week:=”” colorado=”” state=”” and=”” villanova.=””>
HALF AND HALF
Over the last four seasons, Notre Dame has been nearly unbeatable when it has the lead at halftime. The Irish are 65-5 (.929) since the start of the 2000-01 campaign when they go into the dressing room with the lead, including a 3-1 mark this year. One of those rare losses occurred vs. Colorado in the WBCA Classic on Nov. 15. Notre Dame led 37-33 at the intermission before the Buffaloes rallied for a 67-63 overtime win.
THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE …
Over the last nine seasons, Notre Dame has discovered that a solid defensive effort can almost certainly guarantee a victory. In fact, since the beginning of the 1995-96 season (Notre Dame’s first in the BIG EAST Conference), the Irish have an amazing 115-4 (.966) record when they hold their opponents to less than 60 points in a game. Notre Dame added another notch on that tally on Nov. 21 vs. Valparaiso by holding the Crusaders to 57 points.
… BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SCORE IF YOU WANT TO WIN
Not resting solely on its defensive laurels, Notre Dame also seemingly has found the magic mark when it comes to outscoring its opponents. Over the last nine seasons (1995-96 to present), the Irish are 86-3 (.966) when they score at least 80 points in a game. The only blemishes on that record are a pair of overtime losses to Texas A&M (88-84) and Michigan State (87-83) in 1995 and a 106-81 loss to Connecticut in 1998. Notre Dame tacked on another win to this tally on Dec. 4 with its 82-64 win over Wisconsin.
SWEET SUCCESS
Notre Dame is one of only eight schools in the country to have appeared in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen five times in the past seven seasons (1997-2003). The others are Connecticut (seven times), Tennessee (seven times), Duke (six times), Louisiana Tech (six times), North Carolina (five times), Old Dominion (five times) and Texas Tech (five times).
THE GOLD STANDARD
The Irish are one of just six teams nationwide to have an active streak of 10 consecutive 20-win seasons. The others in these elite club are Tennessee (27), Texas Tech (14), Louisiana Tech (12), Old Dominion (12) and Connecticut (10).
CHECK OUT THE THREADS
For the first time since the 1998-99 season, the Irish are wearing white uniforms at home this season, eschewing the golden togs they sported for the past four seasons. Notre Dame has worn white uniforms on numerous occasions on the past, dating as far back as the school’s first varsity women’s basketball squad, which took the floor in 1977-78. Blue will continue to be the primary color for the Irish road uniforms.
NOW THAT’S A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
One of the hallmarks of Notre Dame’s success has been its stellar play at home. In fact, the Irish have been virtually untouchable at home in recent years, winning 87 of their last 94 games (.926) at the 11,418-seat Joyce Center, including a school-record 51-game winning streak from 1998-2002 (at the time, it was the 10th-longest string in NCAA history. Notre Dame also has a 61-7 (.897) record in BIG EAST Conference play at the Joyce Center, sporting a 31-game winning streak at home before it was snapped with a 48-45 loss to Villanova in the 2002 home finale.
The Irish have been particularly strong when it comes to non-conference games at home, winning 42 of their last 44 non-BIG EAST contests at the Joyce Center, dating back to the 1994-95 season. The only two losses in that span came to Wisconsin in 1996 (81-69) and Purdue in 2003 (71-54). The Purdue loss snapped a 33-game non-conference home winning streak which began after the UW setback.
Since its inaugural season in 1977-78, Notre Dame has played all of its games at the Joyce Center, posting a 250-70 (.781) record at the venerable facility. In both the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons, the Irish were a perfect 15-0 at home, setting a school record for home wins in a season. Also, since joining the BIG EAST for the 1995-96 season, Notre Dame is 100-9 (.917) at the Joyce Center.
JAMMIN’ THE JOYCE
Beginning with its national championship season of 2000-01, Notre Dame has ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in attendance each of the past three years. The Irish are looking to extend that streak to a fourth straight season and have gotten off to a good start, averaging 5,948 fans for their first two home games. According to the first unofficial national attendance rankings compiled by the Wisconsin Sports Information Office (as of Dec. 8), Notre Dame ranks 10th in the country in attendance.
The Irish averaged 7,132 fans for their 13 home games last season, good for their second consecutive eighth-place finish in the final NCAA attendance rankings. Last year also saw Notre Dame register two of the top 10 crowds in school history, including a season-high gathering of 9,483 fans, the fifth-largest in school history for the nationally-televised matchup with Purdue on Jan. 4.
All of the top 20 crowds in the Irish record book have occurred during the 17-year tenure of head coach Muffet McGraw (1987-present). And, as more evidence of Notre Dame’s rapid elevation to “hot ticket” status in South Bend, 19 of the top 20 crowds in school history have been recorded in the last four seasons.
NOTRE DAME AMONG RECENT WINS LEADERS
Notre Dame has won 184 games over the last eight seasons, which stands as the ninth-most wins of any school in the country during that time.
NOTRE DAME FACING ONE TOUGH SLATE
Historically, Notre Dame has always played a difficult schedule and 2003-04 is more evidence of that fact. The Irish will play no less than 17 teams that qualified for postseason play last year, including 12 NCAA Tournament squads and six that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (highlighted by two-time defending national champion Connecticut and NCAA runner-up Tennessee). In addition, five opponents (Connecticut, Purdue, Tennessee, Valparaiso and Villanova) won the regular-season or tournament title in their respective conference. Furthermore, 19 of the 26 possible Irish opponents finished with records of .500 or better last season, including 12 squads that posted 20-win campaigns. All told, Notre Dame opponents had a combined winning percentage of .610 last season (490-313).
NOTRE DAME ON THE SMALL SCREEN
Based on its success in recent years, Notre Dame continues to be a favorable television draw and the 2003-04 season will be no exception. The Irish are slated to play on the small screen no less than eight times in the coming campaign, including four appearances on national television.
Notre Dame made its ’03-04 television debut on Dec. 7 at Washington in a matchup that was shown to a national cable audience on Fox Sports Net. The Irish are back on coast-to-coast television Jan. 4 when they visit Purdue for the inaugural BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge. That contest will be shown live on ESPN2.
In addition, Notre Dame has been selected to appear on the BIG EAST Conference television package four times this season, including three home games. The Irish will take on Virginia Tech (Jan. 10), Villanova (Jan. 24) and Boston College (Jan. 31) at home and travel to Rutgers (Feb. 28) for games in front of the BIG EAST TV cameras. Those games may be seen on a regional basis in several major East Coast markets, including New York, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia and Washington, as well as South Bend, where WHME-TV (Channel 46) will show the games on a delayed basis.
It also was recently announced that the BIG EAST matchup between Notre Dame and two-time defending national champion Connecticut will be televised jointly by WHME-TV and Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), with College Sports Television (CSTV) also picking up the broadcast and airing it nationally. That game will take place Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. (ET) from the Joyce Center.
Notre Dame will make a fourth national TV appearance on Feb. 25, when the BIG EAST game between the Irish and Miami at the Joyce Center is broadcast live by CSTV. That contest will tip off at 8 p.m. (ET): some early schedules initially had this game listed one hour earlier.
In addition, the semifinals of this year’s BIG EAST Championship presented by State Farm will be broadcast on the BIG EAST television package Monday, March 8 at 6 and 8 p.m. (ET) from the Hartford (Conn.) Civic Center. WHME-TV in South Bend will carry those games live. The championship game will air live on ESPN2 on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. (EST).
NOTRE DAME TO PLAY HOST TO NCAA TOURNAMENT ACTION IN 2004
After a two-year absence, the Joyce Center once again will be home to NCAA Tournament competition as Notre Dame was selected to be one of 16 sites for first- and second-round games in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Action at the South Bend subregional will take place Sunday, March 21 and Tuesday, March 23, with exact tipoff times and potential television broadcasts to be determined by the NCAA during the week leading up to the competition.
Should Notre Dame qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in school history (and the ninth consecutive season), the Irish are guaranteed to play at home. Notre Dame has played five NCAA tourney games at the Joyce Center in its history, going 4-1 and and advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2000 and 2001 (the Irish went on to win the national championship in the latter season).
Tickets for NCAA Tournament games at the Joyce Center currently are available only to Notre Dame season ticket holders, who have a priority option to purchase seats for the event. Tickets for the Sunday and Tuesday sessions will go on sale to the general public Monday, Dec. 1. Single-game tickets will not be made available until after the field of 64 is announced on March 14. For more information on how to purchase tickets for the 2004 NCAA Tournament at the Joyce Center, contact the Notre Dame ticket office at (574) 631-7356.
NOTRE DAME ON THE AIRWAVES
Once again this season, every Irish women’s basketball game (home and away) will air on the flagship stations of the Artistic Media Partners (AMP) Network < wdnd-am=”” (espn=”” radio=”” 1620)=”” and=”” wndv-am=”” (1490)=”” in=”” south=”” bend.=”” veteran=”” broadcaster=”” and=”” amp=”” sports=”” director=”” sean=”” stires=”” is=”” now=”” in=”” his=”” fourth=”” season=”” handling=”” the=”” play-by-play=”” for=”” notre=”” dame,=”” while=”” amp=”” sports=”” personality=”” shawn=”” lewallen=”” is=”” in=”” his=”” second=”” season=”” providing=”” analysis.=”” the=”” irish=”” also=”” can=”” be=”” heard=”” on=”” the=”” internet=”” at=”” notre=”” dame’s=”” official=”” athletics=”” website=”” (www.und.com)=”” by=”” subscribing=”” to=”” fighting=”” irish=”” pass,=”” which=”” gives=”” listeners=”” full=”” access=”” to=”” a=”” variety=”” of=”” irish=”” athletics=”” events=”” on=”” radio=”” for=”” only=”” $6.95=”” per=”” month.=””>
THE Muffet McGraw SHOW
Muffet McGraw’s half-hour, weekly television show is produced by LeSea Broadcasting and hosted by Bob Nagle. The show, now in its seventh season, is carried by WHME-TV (Channel 46) in South Bend and airs at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Saturdays through the end of the 2003-04 season. The show also is available via satellite (Galaxy 6, Transponder 15) each Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (ET), and may be seen on LeSea Broadcasting stations in Denver, Honolulu, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Tulsa (check local listings).
BATTEAST NAMED JOHN R. WOODEN WOMEN’S AWARD PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind.) is one of 30 players who were named to the 2003-04 John R. Wooden Women’s Award Preseason All-America Team on Aug. 13. Based on a vote of the Wooden Women’s Award National Advisory Board, these 30 players are considered the top candidates for the inaugural Wooden Women’s Award, which will be presented to the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player at the conclusion of the ’03-04 season.
Batteast is a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection who started every game for the Irish last season, leading the team in scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.3 rpg.) and blocked shots (1.56 bpg.). She also ranked among the top 15 in the BIG EAST in those categories, as well as steals (1.97 spg.) and double-doubles (8). In addition, the 6-2 wing scored in double figures 26 times, topped the 20-point mark five times, and earned game-high rebounding honors of 14 occasions. She ranks among Notre Dame’s career leaders in scoring average (6th – 13.8 ppg.) and rebounding average (tie-2nd – 8.1 rpg.), and she is one of only five players in school history to amass at least 800 points in her first two seasons under the Golden Dome.
Batteast is one of five BIG EAST players named to the Wooden Preseason All-America Team, joining Rebekkah Brunson of Georgetown, Cappie Pondexter of Rutgers, and the Connecticut duo of Ann Strother and Diana Taurasi.
In mid-January, the Wooden Women’s Award Committee will release its Midseason Top 20 List, followed in March by the official voting ballot which will consist of the top 10-15 players who have proven their success in the classroom (minimum 2.0 grade-point average) as well as on the court. More than 250 voters, comprised of sports media members and women’s college basketball experts around the country, will then cast their votes for the five-member Wooden All-America Team and the Wooden Award winner.
Although the 2003-04 season marks the debut of the Wooden Women’s Award, the honor initially was created in 1976 to recognize the top male collegiate basketball player in the nation. Past winners include Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84) and Tim Duncan (’97).
BATTEAST CHOSEN FOR STATE FARM/WBCA WADE TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast is one of 35 players who were selected to the 2003-04 State Farm Wade Trophy Preseason Watch List on Aug. 20 by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Based on a vote of committee members which include leading coaches, journalists and basketball administrators, these 35 players are considered the top candidates for the State Farm Wade Trophy, which will be presented to the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player at the conclusion of the ’03-04 season.
Batteast is a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection who started every game for the Irish last season, leading the team in scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.3 rpg.) and blocked shots (1.56 bpg.). She also ranked among the top 15 in the BIG EAST in those categories, as well as steals (1.97 spg.) and double-doubles (8). In addition, the 6-2 wing scored in double figures 26 times, topped the 20-point mark five times, and earned game-high rebounding honors of 14 occasions. She ranks among Notre Dame’s career leaders in scoring average (6th – 13.8 ppg.) and rebounding average (tie-2nd – 8.1 rpg.), and she is one of only five players in school history to amass at least 800 points in her first two seasons under the Golden Dome.
Batteast was one of five BIG EAST players named to the ’03-04 Wade Trophy Preseason Watch List, joining Rebekkah Brunson of Georgetown, Ieva Kublina of Virginia Tech, Cappie Pondexter of Rutgers and last year’s Wade Trophy recipient, Diana Taurasi of Connecticut.
The State Farm Wade Trophy, now in its 27th year, is named after Margaret Wade, the late Delta State University coach who won three national championship in the mid-1970s. The Wade Trophy is considered the one of the most prestigious individual awards in women’s college basketball and is organized by the WBCA and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS).
STREET & SMITH’S TAPS BATTEAST AS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Adding to her armload of preseason hardware, junior forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind.) was named a preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith’s in the magazine’s annual basketball preview issue. It’s the third preseason honor for the talented 6-2 wing, who is a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection. She also was the 2001-02 United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Freshman of the Year and a WBCA/Kodak honorable mention All-American that season, as well as the unanimous choice for BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.
BATTEAST, ERWIN EARN PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast and freshman forward Crystal Erwin both received preseason recognition in a vote of the BIG EAST Conference coaches that was released at the league’s annual Media Day on Oct. 30 at the Newark (N.J.) Liberty Airport Hilton. Batteast was a preseason first-team all-BIG EAST selection, while Erwin was named the Preseason BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, sharing the honor with Connecticut’s Liz Sherwood.
Batteast led the Irish in scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.3 rpg.), blocked shots (1.56 bpg.) and double-doubles (8), ranking among the BIG EAST leaders in all four categories. She is a two-time second-team all-conference selection and is one of only five players in school history to score 800 points in her first two seasons at Notre Dame.
As a senior last year at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Erwin earned All-America honors from Parade, Street & Smith’s and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and also was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-America Game in Atlanta. She averaged 22.3 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game during her storied prep career, averaging double-doubles during both her junior (24.9 ppg., 14.9 rpg.) and senior seasons (21.2 ppg., 10.2 rpg.). She holds career records at St. Paul for points (2,720), rebounds (1,630) and blocks (380), as well as the school single-season scoring mark (869 in 2001-02). She follows Batteast as the second Irish rookie in three years to be chosen the BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year.
BATTEAST PICKED FOR NAISMITH AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Junior forward Jacqueline Batteast is among 30 preseason candidates named to the watch list for 2003-04 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Awards which are presented annually by the Atanta Tip-Off Club. The Naismith Awards program, now in its 36th year, honors the outstanding male and female college basketball players in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. The candidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts.
Batteast is a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection who started every game for the Irish last season, leading the team in scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (8.3 rpg.) and blocked shots (1.56 bpg.). She also ranked among the top 15 in the BIG EAST in those categories, as well as steals (1.97 spg.) and double-doubles (8). In addition, the 6-2 wing scored in double figures 26 times, topped the 20-point mark five times, and earned game-high rebounding honors of 14 occasions. She ranks among Notre Dame’s career leaders in scoring average (6th – 13.8 ppg.) and rebounding average (tie-2nd – 8.1 rpg.), and she is one of only five players in school history to amass at least 800 points in her first two seasons under the Golden Dome.
The Naismith Award is the latest in a series of preseason honors for the Batteast. She was named a preseason All-American by both the John R. Wooden Women’s Award and Street & Smith’s magazine, and she also was selected to the State Farm/WBCA Wade Trophy Preseason Watch List. In addition, she was a first-team all-BIG EAST choice, according to a vote of the league’s head coaches.
IRISH INK THREE STUDENT-ATHLETES IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw announced Nov. 18 that three of the nation’s top high school student-athletes have chosen to continue their careers with the Irish, signing national letters of intent to attend Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2004. Charel Allen , a 5-10 guard from Monessen, Pa., Melissa D’Amico, a 6-5 forward/center from Manorville, N.Y., and Tulyah Gaines (pronounced too-LIE-uh) , a 5-8 guard from North Las Vegas, Nev., all committed to the Irish during the early signing period, which lasted from Nov. 12-19.
Allen will arrive at Notre Dame next fall as one of the top college prospects from western Pennsylvania. She is a three-time Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-American who averaged 29.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 7.2 steals and 4.8 assists per game last season at Monessen High School. She also is a two-time Associated Press first-team all-state pick and was named the 2003 AP Class A Player of the Year. In addition, she is a two-time all-Pittsburgh metro area selection and a ’03 AAU 16-and-under All-American. As a freshman in 2001, she was a fifth-team AP all-state choice when she averaged 23.6 points per game. In her first three seasons at MHS, Allen has piled up 2,302 points (26.2 ppg.), 995 rebounds (11.3 rpg.), 600 steals (6.8 spg.), 426 assists (4.8 apg.) and 102 blocks (1.2 bpg.). She was ranked 27th in the nation by Blue Star Index and she will be the fourth Pennsylvania native to play for the Irish (the first in 13 seasons).
At 6-5, D’Amico will be the tallest player on the Irish roster when she sets foot on the Notre Dame campus in the fall of 2004. A versatile post player, she averaged 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game last season for William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, N.Y. (located on Long Island). She burst onto the national scene this past summer at the adidas Top Ten Camp in Suwanee, Ga., and is considered by most recruiting services to be one of the top players on the rise in this year’s class. She currently is ranked 47th in the country by All-Star Girls Report and 91st by Blue Star Index , and she follows in the footsteps of another talented New Yorker who came to Notre Dame < two-time=”” honorable=”” mention=”” all-american=”” and=”” mount=”” vernon,=”” n.y.,=”” product,=”” katryna=”” gaither=”” (1993-97).=””>
Gaines is a playmaking guard who will give the Irish solid depth in the backcourt. Last summer, she moved to North Las Vegas and is attending Cheyenne High School, where she will play for the Desert Shields this year. Gaines previously lived in Burbank, Calif., where she was a three-year starter at John Burroughs High School. She averaged 18.9 points and 5.1 assists per game last season and was a first-team all-CIF SS (Southern California) Division 2A First Team selection. In addition, she is a two-time Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-American and won a bronze medal with the West Team at the 2003 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival in Colorado Springs. Gaines averaged 6.0 points per game during the five-game tournament, which featured the top prep players from around the country. She is ranked 25th nationally by All-Game Sports, 52nd by Blue Star Index and 61st by All-Star Girls Report , and she is the second Las Vegas area resident in as many years to sign with Notre Dame < current=”” irish=”” freshman=”” guard=””>Breona Gray graduated from Bishop Gorman High School last May.
With the addition of Allen, D’Amico and Gaines, Notre Dame has assembled the nation’s 13th-ranked recruiting class according to Blue Star Index. This marks the eighth consecutive year in which the Irish have attracted a Top 20 class, making Notre Dame one of only three schools (along with Connecticut and Tennessee) to have such a consistent run of recruiting success.
NEW BOOK BY McGRAW NOW ON SALE
Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw tried her hand at writing during the past year and has co-authored a book with Bradley University professor Paul Gullifor entitled “Courting Success: Muffet McGraw’s Formula For Winning In Sports And In Life.” The book, which currently is in bookstores nationwide and may be purchased through on-line booksellers such as Amazon.com, touches on how, in the shadows of the nation’s most storied football program, McGraw has quietly built the women’s basketball program into a national power.
Women’s basketball has been one of the University’s most consistently successful varsity sport during the past 16 years, qualifying for the postseason 13 times, including 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament, five NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances and two Final Fours berths. The team’s rise to national prominence was then cemented with a national championship in 2001. In short, the Notre Dame women’s basketball program has been steadily built into a perennial national championship contender, and its architect for those 16 years has been McGraw. Entering the 2003-04 season, the Pottsville, Pa., native has won 363 games at Notre Dame, has a stellar .725 winning percentage and was the consensus 2001 national Coach of the Year.
Personal accolades aside, McGraw has always been more concerned with off-court success than the progress of her teams. Accordingly, this book is a motivational and inspirational book in which she shares her ingredients for success < on=”” and=”” off=”” the=”” court.=”” it=”” provides=”” lessons=”” for=”” those=”” aspiring=”” toward=”” success=”” in=”” basketball,=”” and=”” in=”” life,=”” while=”” illustrating=”” why=””>Muffet McGraw is one of college basketball’s most accomplished coaches.
PROMOTIONAL CORNER
Here’s a rundown of some upcoming promotions and giveaways at future Notre Dame women’s basketball games this season (additional promotions and giveaways may be added at a later date):
- Dec. 13 vs. Dayton – Women’s basketball window clings to the first 3,000 fans
- Dec. 22 vs. USC – Holiday celebration; “Rubber Boy” will perform at halftime
- Jan. 1 vs. Marquette – New Year’s Day celebration; combo magnets to the first 1,000 fans
- Jan. 10 vs. Virginia Tech – Mini-foam basketballs to first 1,000 fans
NEXT GAME: USC
Notre Dame will take the next week off for final exams before returning to action Monday, Dec. 22, when it plays host to USC in a 1 p.m. (ET) game at the Joyce Center. The Irish will be meeting the Women of Troy for the fifth consecutive season and the sixth time in series history, with Notre Dame owning a 4-1 edge over USC, including a 2-0 mark at home.
The Women of Troy (1-3) are coming off a narrow 72-69 loss to top-ranked Connecticut on Dec. 7 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. USC led by as much as 15 points in the first half, but could not hold on as the Huskies extended their regular-season winning streak to 72 games. Besides UConn, USC also lost by two points (77-75) at New Mexico and fell to No. 9/8 Minnesota (84-61) at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas. The Women of Troy do have a win over a BIG EAST school, downing Seton Hall, 70-59 in the Bahamas.
While Notre Dame is off this week for final exams, USC will play three times at home, beginning Saturday against San Diego. The Women of Troy also will welcome SMU (Dec. 17) and No. 17/14 Colorado (Dec. 20) before coming in South Bend. Colorado will be the only common opponent between the clubs at tipoff – Notre Dame lost at CU, 67-63 in overtime in the championship game of the WBCA Classic back on Nov. 15.