It was “Wild 21” night at the Purcell Pavilion on Thursday. Box score.
During its 100-44 victory versus the Panthers, Notre Dame put the game early with a 21-0 blitzkrieg in the first quarter that made it 23-2 before that 10-minute session finished 32-10. The Irish then had another 21-0 salvo in the second quarter that extended the margin to 53-12 in the ACC opener for both teams.
The No. 2-ranked Irish are 13-1 overall while outmatched Pitt fell to 9-6. Head coach Muffet McGraw called it the best performance of the year in terms of both defensive intensity and ball movement and sharing.
Senior Marina Mabrey’s 20 points and seven assists and three steals all paced the Irish. Arike Ogunbowale had 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field (converting both threes) while junior Jackie Young had 16 points (6 of 9 from the floor) and six rebounds. Young needed six points to become the 40th player in the program’s history (begun in 1977) to tally more than 1,000 in her career, and she reached that milestone less than three minutes into the contest.
With a 60-14 lead at halftime, it was the second-fewest ever allowed in the first half of an ACC game. The first was Notre Dame permitting only 11 to Virginia Tech during the 2015-16 season. The Panthers managed only four points in the second quarter on 2 of 17 shooting. The score was 85-24 after the third quarter, at which point Pitt was 10 of 49 (20.4 percent) from the field and had 21 turnovers.
The Irish play at Georgia Tech Sunday before their showdown with No. 3 Louisville at Purcell next Thursday.
Three-Point Play
1.Never Again?
With Young now in the 1,00-point club, it is the first time to our knowledge that either men’s or women’s Irish team had all five starters on the floor at that milestone at the same time. Senior forward Jessica Shepard spent her first two years at Nebraska, so she is technically not a 1,000-point scorer at Notre Dame (although she could be by the end of the year).
It will be difficult to ever match that again.
2. Jackie Of All Trades
McGraw reiterated that by the time Young graduates next year she will be the best ever to don the Gold & Blue for the women because of her all-around excellence as a scorer, rebounder, passer, defender and teammate. She has played at the point and can defend guards on the perimeter or bigs in the post. Next year, the all-time scorer in Indiana history, girls or boys, could well be called on to average 25 points nightly.
3. Developing Bench
Sophomore Mikayla Vaughn (nine points, four rebounds) seems to have a little better movement while wearing a far less cumbersome protector on her surgically repaired knee from last year. Classmate Danielle Patterson (six points, two rebounds) finished with the most playing time (23:30) and is much more in the offensive flow than a year ago. Freshman Jordan Nixon (nine points, four assists) also is looking to shoot a little more and is benefitting from Mabrey’s tutelage. Freshman Abby Prohaska has been the first guard off the bench while supplying a defensive presence.
During its 100-44 victory versus the Panthers, Notre Dame put the game early with a 21-0 blitzkrieg in the first quarter that made it 23-2 before that 10-minute session finished 32-10. The Irish then had another 21-0 salvo in the second quarter that extended the margin to 53-12 in the ACC opener for both teams.
The No. 2-ranked Irish are 13-1 overall while outmatched Pitt fell to 9-6. Head coach Muffet McGraw called it the best performance of the year in terms of both defensive intensity and ball movement and sharing.
Senior Marina Mabrey’s 20 points and seven assists and three steals all paced the Irish. Arike Ogunbowale had 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field (converting both threes) while junior Jackie Young had 16 points (6 of 9 from the floor) and six rebounds. Young needed six points to become the 40th player in the program’s history (begun in 1977) to tally more than 1,000 in her career, and she reached that milestone less than three minutes into the contest.
With a 60-14 lead at halftime, it was the second-fewest ever allowed in the first half of an ACC game. The first was Notre Dame permitting only 11 to Virginia Tech during the 2015-16 season. The Panthers managed only four points in the second quarter on 2 of 17 shooting. The score was 85-24 after the third quarter, at which point Pitt was 10 of 49 (20.4 percent) from the field and had 21 turnovers.
The Irish play at Georgia Tech Sunday before their showdown with No. 3 Louisville at Purcell next Thursday.
Three-Point Play
1.Never Again?
With Young now in the 1,00-point club, it is the first time to our knowledge that either men’s or women’s Irish team had all five starters on the floor at that milestone at the same time. Senior forward Jessica Shepard spent her first two years at Nebraska, so she is technically not a 1,000-point scorer at Notre Dame (although she could be by the end of the year).
It will be difficult to ever match that again.
2. Jackie Of All Trades
McGraw reiterated that by the time Young graduates next year she will be the best ever to don the Gold & Blue for the women because of her all-around excellence as a scorer, rebounder, passer, defender and teammate. She has played at the point and can defend guards on the perimeter or bigs in the post. Next year, the all-time scorer in Indiana history, girls or boys, could well be called on to average 25 points nightly.
3. Developing Bench
Sophomore Mikayla Vaughn (nine points, four rebounds) seems to have a little better movement while wearing a far less cumbersome protector on her surgically repaired knee from last year. Classmate Danielle Patterson (six points, two rebounds) finished with the most playing time (23:30) and is much more in the offensive flow than a year ago. Freshman Jordan Nixon (nine points, four assists) also is looking to shoot a little more and is benefitting from Mabrey’s tutelage. Freshman Abby Prohaska has been the first guard off the bench while supplying a defensive presence.
