No. 5 Notre Dame Easily Passes By North Carolina, 94-62
When it came to pass, No. 5-ranked Notre Dame (21-2, 9-1 in ACC) knew how during Thursday night’s 94-62 romp versus North Carolina (14-8, 4-5) at Purcell Pavilion.
Following the passing clinic displayed Sunday during the 100-69 blowout of No. 8 Florida State in which the Irish handed out 22 assists, they had 15 in the first half alone (on 21 baskets) against the Tar Heels while building a 51-21 advantage at the intermission.
Head coach Muffet McGraw’s crew finished with a season high 28 assists on 37 baskets against the Tar Heels, with junior guard Marina Mabrey handing out a career-high-tying eight (which she also did during the Jan. 14 victory versus Boston College). Mabrey, who has consistently improved in her newly designated point guard role, also pulled off a “triple play” by tallying a season high 25 points to go with a team high and season high five steals (third time she had that total this year).
Highlighted by three threes in a span of 56 seconds in the fourth quarter, junior Arike Ogunbowale finished with 24 points — and tied her season high in assists with five that she had last month versus Clemson. Junior forward Jessica Shepard also tied her career high in assists with six. The passing in great part led to Notre Dame outscoring the Tar Heels in the paint, 48-16.
“We really passed the ball well today,” said Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw. “I was really pleased with the unselfishness that we showed out there … That’s great Princeton basketball.”
“The past two games we’ve really showed that we can share the ball,” Mabrey said. “That’s nice to see. And we’re a little more bit committed to defense, playing harder on defense, getting our hands on stuff, and running transition well.”
“Getting stuff on defense really pushes us on offense,” said fifth-year senior Kristina Nelson, who had another productive game off the bench with 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes. “It creates our offense, basically … we’re having fun out there.”
Notre Dame was never threatened, opening up an 11-2 lead in the first 2:29 while building a 26-11 first-quarter cushion, followed by a 25-10 second quarter.
North Carolina was out-scored only 43-41 in the second half, but the Irish starting unit sat out most of the fourth quarter.
“Offensively they’re just incredible,” said North Carolina head coach Sylvia Hatchell, who was honored by the Irish during the pregame for becoming the third women’s coach in history to post 1,000 career wins (achieved in December). “Defensively they’re deceptive a lot more than you think … they’re very tough, very physical. They should go deep in the Tournament.”
The Irish next play at No. 19 Duke on Super Bowl Sunday with a 1 p.m. tip-off on ESPN2.
Three-Point Play
1.Kathryn Westbeld Listed Day-To-Day
The senior forward was hit in the right eye late in the third quarter and was checked by a team doctor and ophthalmologist, who did not find any structural damage The eye was swollen and she left the arena with an ice pack pressed against the eye. McGraw listed her as “day to day” prior to Sunday’s game at Duke.
2. Bouncing Back Big
Since the Jan. 11 meltdown at Louisville, Notre Dame has won six in a row while outscoring the opposition by an average of 90.7 to 58.5, including 14- and 31-point wins versus top-10 ranked foes Tennessee and Florida State. The Irish have the nation’s No. 1-ranked Strength of Schedule and the No. 2 RPI.
3. Walk-On Welcome
All three Irish walk-ons were able to give the starters some needed rest in the fourth quarter, with Kaitlin Cole playing the final eight minutes in place of Mabrey, forward Maureen Butler playing six minutes and Nicole Benz’s three-pointer putting her in the scorebook this year too. Every little bit helps to take some of the grind off the season off the starters who have had to put in overtime work because of four season-ending ACL injuries to teammates..
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