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No. 1 Notre Dame Advances To Third Round Of Preseason WNIT

Lindsay Allen (15) led the Irish in scoring (13) and assists (5), while Kathryn Westbeld (33) paced them in rebounds (11)
Lindsay Allen (15) led the Irish in scoring (13) and assists (5), while Kathryn Westbeld (33) paced them in rebounds (11) (Joe Raymond)

You know you’ve reached the top of the food chain in your sport when a 31-pont victory is considered ugly and sloppy.

Such was the case Monday night in N0. 1 Notre Dame’s 67-36 victory versus Fordham in second round Preseason WNIT action at the Purcell Pavilion. The Fighting Irish shot a well below average 42.4 percent from the floor, including just 1-of-8 from three-point range, with the lone conversion not coming until freshman Erin Boley connected with 3:54 left in the contest. Notre Dame also committed 16 turnovers while handing out only 11 assists on its 25 baskets.

Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw attributed it one-third to Notre Dame’s own play that included missing numerous open looks, one-third to a strong, scrappy Fordham defense, and one-third to the Rams’ methodical pace that got the Irish out of their comfort zone.

"This time of year we're going to see all kinds of new things, all kinds of new ways to guard us,” McGraw said. “It seems like being physical is the thing that people are choosing right now. Brianna [Turner] is really getting beat up inside — and all the posts are. The guards got beat up a little bit in the last game. People are trying to really bother us with the physical play and so we've got to learn how to adjust to that."

Defensively, the Irish dug in as well while holding Fordham to 12 of 52 shooting (23.1 parent), including 2 of 19 (10.5 percent) from three-point range.

Senior point guard Lindsay Allen and sophomore guard Arike Ogunbowale paced the Irish offense with 13 points apiece, while Turner had 10. Junior Kathryn Westbeld led the rebounding with 11, while Turner had eight. Allen led the team in assists (5) and steals (2) while also adding six rebounds.

The Irish will host Green Bay (2-0) in third-round action on Thursday.


Three-Point Play

1.Player Of The Game Is…

Senior Kristina “Koko” Nelson, the top surprise of the preseason who has carried her energy and new-found confidence into the games. In 18 minutes off the bench the 6-4 Nelson scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds — plus took her first career charge, per a joking McGraw.

Late in the third quarter with the Irish leading only 36-28, Nelson scored six straight points and provided a jolt of energy that led McGraw to refer to her as the player of the game.

2. The Ironwoman

Point guard Allen — 5-for-5 from the field on a night when the Irish were way off — is the steadying force on both ends of the floor that makes the team click. She has never missed a start in her four seasons and her 37 minutes against the Rams were nine more than anyone else on the roster.

Without Allen on the floor, the Irish still would be a top 10 team and national title contender. With her, it just might become the front-runner.

3. Glue Figure

That role will belong to forward Westbeld, who does not have the low-post range and reach of Turner nor quite the scoring prowess of wings Ogunbowale or Marina Mabrey. She can do a little of everything, though, and her 11 rebounds (four on offense) in 24 minutes were her main contribution this time.

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