No. 1 Notre Dame Edges Past Scrappy Green Bay, 71-67

Notre Dame has not trailed yet in its 120 minutes of basketball this year, but head coach Muffet McGraw’s top-ranked Fighting Irish were given all they could handle by a veteran Green Bay squad Thursday night at the Purcell Pavilion before prevailing, 71-67.

Sophomore guard Arike Ogunbowale paced the Irish with 18 points, while junior forward Brianna Turner had 14 and sophomore guard Marina Mabrey 13. Senior point guard Lindsay Allen played all 40 minutes, collecting a game high eight assists to go with eight points, five rebounds and three steals.

Yet the glue was junior forward Kathryn Westbeld, who in 26 minutes shot an efficient 4-of-6 from the floor, grabbed a team high eight rebounds, made two steals, had an assist, no turnovers and some vital plays on defense.

The win advanced Notre Dame (3-0) to the championship game of the Preseason WNIT against No. 17 Washington, which crashed the Final Four last season and was a 79-62 winner over No. 25 Missouri in the other semifinal round.

On the fringe of making the top 25, Green Bay has won 18 consecutive regular-season conference championships and made 16 NCAA Championship appearances over that span. Its competitive nature showed when it cut its deficit to 32-28 before the Irish closed the first half on a 9-2 run, highlighted by coast-to-coast drives by both Turner and Ogunbowale in the closing seconds.

Notre Dame appeared to be on the verge of breaking the game open while taking a 49-32 third-quarter lead, but the Phoenix repeatedly drilled three-point shots, some under duress, finishing 12-of-25 beyond the arc to chip away at the deficit.

The Irish led 66-61 and Green Bay had the ball when Westbeld gave Notre Dame possession while forcing a jump ball. She then grabbed an offensive rebound that helped result in Irish points.

“I need a cooling off period,” said McGraw, who compared the game to the 75-64 win over a quality South Dakota State program last Nov. 21. “I was really disappointed in our defense. …we just weren’t able to get it done in the game. I think [Green Bay] is a terrific team, though. They’re so experienced, they’re smart, they’re poised, they’re well coached, they’re disciplined.”

She described the Irish offense as “ragged,” complimenting Turner for working so hard against the physical attack, but not finishing enough around the basket.

"Everybody's going to give you your best shot when you're ranked anywhere in the top five,” McGraw said. “We have to be prepared for that and I think we are mentally prepared. We're not exactly in top form right now. (Green Bay) is a veteran team and they looked like it."

Three-Point Play

1.Who’s No. 1?

We’d be surprised if reigning four-time national champion Connecticut, despite graduating its top three players, doesn’t supplant Notre Dame from the No. 1 spot in next week’s poll. The No. 3 Huskies have opened the year with a win on the road against No. 12 Florida State and then on Thursday night bested No. 2 Baylor, 72-61. Plus, a 77-game winning streak should justify that perch.

Notre Dame will have a chance to reclaim the top spot when it hosts the Huskies Dec. 7, but it will need to earn it, as McGraw has stated.

2. Jackie Young Back In Action

Sidelined with a right thumb injury incurred in last week’s exhibition game, the 2016 Naismith National Player of the Year made her college scoring debut with a three, but especially notable was a hustle diving play in her first minute to set up an Irish tally. The all-time leading scorer in Indiana plays passionately in all aspects of the game. In 15 minutes she pulled in seven rebounds (four on offense) and plays so much taller than her listed six feet.

3. When Push Comes To Shove …

With Notre Dame such a perimeter-laden lineup, McGraw noted how exhausted Turner was to have to work for her 14 points inside. Look for all Irish foes to copy that physical style because right now she is considered the lone low-post, back-to-the-basket scoring threat. All her work on the offensive end could sap some energy on defense, too.

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