2/26/2023 basketball Edit

Notre Dame star Olivia Miles leaves Louisville game with injury

Tyler James • InsideNDSports

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Covering Notre Dame football, recruiting and other Irish sports. Email: tjames@insidendsports.com

Notre Dame women's basketball star Olivia Miles left Sunday's game at Louisville in the second quarter with an apparent right knee injury.

After writhing on the floor in pain and grabbing her right knee, Miles limped to the locker room for the remainder of the first half. Miles returned to the bench with ice on her knee in the third quarter and did not return to game action.

No. 10 Notre Dame still managed to beat Louisville on Sunday, 68-65, to secure the regular season ACC title. The Irish (24-4, 15-3 ACC) were tied in the conference standings with Duke before the Blue Devils lost Sunday to North Carolina.

After the game, Notre Dame said Miles would be evaluated this week. Head coach Niele Ivey was encouraged by the fact that Miles limped off the floor without help.

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Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey, left, and athletic trainer Anne Marquez, right, escort guard Olivia Miles off the court following a knee injury in the first half at Louisville. (Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal/USA Today Network)

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The health of Miles will be critical for No. 10 Notre Dame's postseason run. The 5-foot-10 sophomore guard entered the day leading the Irish in scoring (14.7 points per game), rebounding (7.4 per game) and assists (7.0). She was considered one of the top contenders for ACC Player of the Year and All-America honors.

Sunday marked the final day of the regular season for the Irish. The ACC Tournament will start Wednesday in Greensboro, N.C. The Irish won't have to play until Friday in the quarterfinal round. Notre Dame will play at 2 p.m. EST on ACC Network against the winner of eight-seed NC State (19-10, 9-9) and nine-seed Syracuse (18-11, 9-9).

The first round of the NCAA Tournament is scheduled for March 17-18.

Notre Dame already lost graduate senior guard Dara Mabrey for the season with a torn ACL earlier this year.

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