No. 5 Notre Dame Wins Share Of ACC Title With 86-67 Victory
Back on Oct. 28 when No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 14 North Carolina State met in football, it was advertised as the powerful Fighting Irish offensive line versus the Wolfpack’s stellar defensive line — with something having to give.
“SOMETHING GAVE!” Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly noted loudly to his team after that 35-14 victory.
It was similar Sunday afternoon at the Purcell Pavilion. No. 5-ranked Notre Dame entered No. 1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring offense (84.9, No. 4 nationally), while No. 21 North Carolina State was No. 2 in the league in scoring defense (56.4 points), including holding fourth-ranked Louisville to 55.
“Something gave” again in Notre Dame’s favor during the convincing 86-67 win versus the Wolfpack.
After shooting only 37.5 percent in the first quarter (6-of-16), the Irish converted 29-of-48 — 60.4 percent — the final three, and had four players in double-figure already by the end of the third quarter. The Wolfpack (22-7, 11-5) had allowed more than 70 points only three times this season, and never more than 75.
Notre Dame's lethal guard trio of sophomore Jackie Young (22 points, 8-of-11 from the floor, 6-of-7 from the foul line) and juniors Arike Ogunbowale (21 points) and Marina Mabrey (17 points) combined for 60 points, while forward Kathryn Westbeld on her Senior Day was 8-of-9 from the floor to complement her six rebounds and four assists.
NC State also entered the contest No. 2 in the country in rebounding margin with a plus-11 advantage per game, but the Irish won that department as well with a 37-28 advantage, with Young, Ogunbowale, Westbeld and graduate student Kristina Nelson each pulling down six apiece in the balanced performance.
The victory made 27-2 Notre Dame co-champions of the ACC regular season with Louisville after each posted 15-1 conference marks.
A red-eyed and emotional Irish head coach Muffet McGraw said, “this is definitely the most rewarding championship we’ve had,” citing playing most of the year with seven scholarship players after losing four of them to season ending ACL injuries.
"I think this is the first deep breath I've taken since November 1," McGraw stated of the day junior All-Big Ten forward Jessica Shepard was declared eligible by the NCAA after transferring from Nebraska. “... We overachieved to get this far. To be regular season champs again, it’s really an emotional moment.”
The No. 21-ranked Wolfpack stayed close much of the first 25 minutes, trailing only 17-16 at the end of the first quarter. An 8-1 Notre Dame spurt to begin the second quarter provided a 25-17 cushion. A three by Ogunbowale and another jumper by her gave Notre Dame its largest lead in the first half at 35-22 before NC State narrowed the margin to 39-31 at the intermission.
The Wolfpack pulled within 45-43 at the 6:08 mark of the third quarter before an Ogunbowale trey, tighter team defense in the zone (including 12 steals) and transition opportunities triggered a 16-4 Irish run, with a Mabrey three concluding it. The dagger came right before the final horn in the third quarter when Ogunbowale connected on her fourth trey to extend the lead to what would be an insurmountable 66-49.
A 7-0 run to begin the fourth quarter gave the Irish their largest lead of the game at 24 (73-49).
Next up is the ACC Championships that begin Wednesday in Greensboro, N.C., although the Irish with the double-bye don’t play until Friday.
Three-Point Play
1.Unmasked Marvel
Playing with a broken nose since December, Young lost her protective mask during some contact under the basket in the first quarter, and then played without it thereafter. Per McGraw, Young had been cleared just this week by the medical staff to not have to don it. It did not make Young any less tentative, including repeated aggressive drives to the hoop on one end, defensive hustle (team high four steals) on the other and consistent rebounding production on both ends (team-high-tying six, four on offense).
Young was 34-of-50 (68 percent) from the floor the past five games, and against the Wolfpack she was 8-of-11, putting her at 68.9 percent the last six contests.
2. Consistent Dominance
Notre Dame completed its fifth regular season in the ACC with a 15-1 mark, and 77-3 overall. That’s not including a 12-0 ledger in the ACC Tournament. In other words, with that 89-3 total record, the Irish almost have been to possibly the nation’s top conference what Connecticut has been to the nation.
3. The “L” Word
A showdown in the ACC Championship game is in the making next Sunday between the No. 5 Irish and No. 4 Louisville for a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed. Notre Dame has won 12 consecutive contests since the 100-67 debacle at Louisville on Jan. 11, each by a minimum of 14 points. After defeating the Cardinals 11 straight prior to the meltdown, the Irish will not be intimidated. However, fresh legs also will be vital while likely playing three games in three days.
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