Dara Mabrey – Syndication Server

Niele Ivey, Maddy Westbeld speak after Notre Dame beats Pittsburgh

There was more than basketball to talk about during this game.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame’s 78-53 win over Pittsburgh took on a slightly different tone than usual. While there was the usual happiness over beating an ACC opponent handily, that wasn’t the only thing the Irish were celebrating. This game was the annual Think Pink Game that pays tribute to cancer survivors, and many of them were on hand.

Keeping with the spirit of the day, Niele Ivey and Maddy Westbeld talked about the subject that the game was played in awareness of in addition to answering the usual questions about the game and the team. In fact, some of the questions also were about cancer affecting their personal lives and the community in general. It was the least they could do for a game like this.

Also keeping in the spirit of the dominant win, Ivey and Westbeld were very relaxed and joking during their postgame news conference. Here’s some of what they had to say:

Social media reacts to Notre Dame’s upset win over UConn

You’re loving this moment, right?

With Notre Dame battling UConn in prime time on Fox, all eyes were on this game. The Huskies have such a big reputation that it might be forgotten among casual fans that the Irish have their own track record of success. They definitely can see that after the Irish upset the Huskies on their floor in convincing fashion, 82-67. It is without question the biggest moment of the season to this point.

The people who felt best about this win obviously were Irish fans and those who are connected to the program one way or another. The only thing they could do was take to social react and share their thoughts. These are the folks who either support all things Notre Dame or know the program so well that they’ll remember nights like this long after most others have forgotten about it.

Here are some of the best reactions to this win on social media:

Notre Dame dominates Northwestern from beginning

Not a lot to be upset about for this game.

EVANSTON, Ill. — After a win over California that became a little close for comfort, Notre Dame looked for a breather against Northwestern. That’s exactly what the Irish got as they never trailed. Still, don’t let that 92-58 final fool you. There were a few moments that made this game worth watching.

The Irish (3-0) first got a scoring boost off the bench from [autotag]Lauren Ebo[/autotag], who scored 11 first-quarter points before sitting down after picking up her second foul in the frame. [autotag]Sonia Citron[/autotag] picked up the slack in the second quarter with 14 points. It was too much for the Wildcats (1-2), who were outclassed in all aspects from the opening tip.

Near the end of the second quarter, there was a scuffle after a pair of [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag] free throws, which prompted three Wildcats to leave the bench in an attempt to join in. All three players were ejected after a lengthy review, including Caileigh Walsh, whose seven points led her team at the time. However, Miles also was charged with a technical foul during the dust-up, and she was ejected herself after picking a second technical late in the third quarter.

Citron shot 8 of 10 from the field to score a game-high 24 points and achieved a double-double with 10 rebounds. Miles scored 21 before she was forced to leave the game. Ebo finished with 19. [autotag]Dara Mabrey[/autotag] hit two 3-pointers, one more than she needed to pass her sister Marina for career 3s.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Niele Ivey, Sonia Citron, Kylee Watson speak during ACC Women’s Tipoff

Hear from the reigning ACC regular-season champs.

Notre Dame is hoping to repeat and even improve upon the success it had last year as the ACC regular-season champion. Reigning ACC Coach of the Year [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] fielded questions about that and more during the ACC Women’s Tipoff on Oct. 24 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Joining her were returnees [autotag]Sonia Citron[/autotag] and [autotag]Kylee Watson[/autotag].

Here is some of what they had to say:

Notre Dame gives out team awards for 2022-23 season

Congratulations to the honorees.

For the second straight season, Notre Dame made noise that forced the women’s basketball world to pay attention to it. The impact this past year was even greater than the year before though. The Irish upset UConn during nonconference play, won the outright ACC regular-season championship and made their second straight Sweet 16. That’s a year almost any program would take.

The book on the 2022-23 season officially closed Wednesday when the Irish held their awards banquet. It had to have been tough for ACC Coach of the Year [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] and her staff to select the winners of these awards. Then again, when you look at who won, you probably won’t be surprised. These winners embodied the very things they were honored for, and if the awards had to be voted on again, it’s likely the same results would have come out.

Here are the players who shined the most for the Irish this season:

Thirteen Notre Dame players make ACC All-Academic Team

These players knew to hit the books before they hit the court.

Generally speaking, Notre Dame basketball is a very mixed bag right now. The women are coming off their second straight Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. After a historically bad season, the men have a new coach and need to somehow figure out how to fill up a roster with many gaps. The one thing both programs have in common is they have some very intelligent players.

As a reflection of Notre Dame’s high classroom standards, 13 basketball players have made their respective ACC All-Academic Teams. Specifically, seven women and six men were so honored. It’s the latest example of the university refusing to compromise its values if it means accepting student-athletes who won’t take their studies seriously. With this latest news, that stubbornness won’t change anytime soon.

Take a look at the players who are as good in the classroom as they are on the court. Maybe this can serve as an inspiration to a young person who is struggling with grades. If you are one of them, don’t give up because these men and women sure don’t. It’s the first ACC All-Academic selection for all players unless noted:

Foul trouble dooms Notre Dame against Maryland in NCAA Tournament

The road has ended for the 2022-23 Irish.

With no [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag] or [autotag]Dara Mabrey[/autotag], Notre Dame relied heavily on its frontcourt for the NCAA Tournament. The problem with that is you only can succeed that way when the frontcourt is able to play.

When [autotag]Kylee Watson[/autotag] and [autotag]Lauren Ebo[/autotag] both picked up their fourth fouls during the third quarter of the Irish’s Sweet 16 game against Maryland, the bottom fell out of what had been a competitive contest. With [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] forced to preserve Watson and Ebo for when they really might be needed, the Terrapins ended the quarter on a 13-1 run and never looked back in a 76-59 win, ending the Irish’s season.

The Irish (27-6) scored 13 unanswered points in the second quarter to take their biggest lead at eight. They remained in front by one at halftime but didn’t lead after that. While they tied the score five times in the third quarter, the smaller lineup they were forced to go to with their bigs in foul trouble ultimately caught up with them.

Diamond Miller and Shyanne Sellers combined to lead the guard-heavy Terrapins (28-6) with 30 of their 45 second-half points. They led by as much as 22 late in the fourth quarter as they punched their ticket to the Elite Eight.

After slow first halves, Miller and Sellers with 18 points apiece, and Sellers also had a game-high eight assists. Lavender Briggs scored 12 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Abby Meyers had 11 points and tied Miller for the team lead in steals with four. That gave Meyers and Miller eight of the Terrapins’ 15 steals.

[autotag]Sonia Citron[/autotag] lived up to her reputation as the Irish’s all-purpose player with 14 points and seven rebounds, but she also committed four turnovers. [autotag]KK Bransford[/autotag] led the Irish with seven assists but had four turnovers of her own. [autotag]Maddy Westbeld[/autotag] scored nine points but tied [autotag]Cassandre Prosper[/autotag] with a team-high five turnovers before fouling out. Ebo fouled out with seven points in her final college game.

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Tale of the Tape: Team Stats – Notre Dame vs. Maryland

Do you like the Irish’s chances?

In the Sweet 16, Notre Dame has a chance to avenge a heartbreaking buzzer-beating loss against Maryland earlier this season. This time, both teams’ seasons are on the line with a matchup against undefeated and top-ranked South Carolina likely awaiting the winner in the Elite Eight. But how can the Irish get there? Well, as you can see from the chart, getting revenge against the Terrapins might be easier said than done, especially with no [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag] or [autotag]Dara Mabrey[/autotag] this time:

The Irish are good at outrebounding opponents and keeping points off the scoreboard, but will that be enough to offset their disadvantages in this matchup? The Terrapins are great at shooting free throws, winning the turnover battle, passing and taking the ball away. Will the Irish be able to overcome all of that to move onto the NCAA Tournament’s next round? Most people probably would say no, but that’s why they play the games.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Photos of Notre Dame’s second-round win over Mississippi State

Here’s how the Irish’s latest (but not last) NCAA Tournament game looked.

SOUTH BEND – Notre Dame is heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Mississippi State, 53-48. That’s where it will have a chance to avenge a loss to Maryland from earlier this season. The only problem is Olivia Miles and Dara Mabrey won’t play, so that will make it tougher. Then again, that’s the drama the NCAA Tournament provides.

This year’s Irish got one final opportunity to play in front the crowd that has create a warm atmosphere at Purcell Pavilion all season. They did not disappoint, even as the game got a little too close for comfort in the fourth quarter. It was a memory no one who was there ever will forget, and there have been plenty of those lately. One only can imagine what next season’s South Bend crowds will look like.

If you somehow missed this game or just want to revisit it, here are some images for you to enjoy:

Niele Ivey, Lauren Ebo, Maddy Westbeld speak after Notre Dame win

There was a lot to say after the victory.

SOUTH BEND – Although Notre Dame found itself in a battle with Mississippi State, it gladly will take a 53-48 win. The second-round victory means a trip to the Sweet 16, specifically Greenville Regional 1. One more win, and the Irish could face top-ranked and undefeated South Carolina in the Elite Eight. But for now, it’s all about the happy things.

[autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] is glad that her team was able to get this far after many had doubts because a roster shortened by injuries. [autotag]Lauren Ebo[/autotag] is basking in the aftermath of 10 points, five blocks and an Irish-tournament record 18 rebounds. [autotag]Maddy Westbeld[/autotag] likely doesn’t care that she didn’t score as much as in her last game, but her own 15 rebounds should allow her to be at peace with her performance.

All three appeared before the assembled media after the emotional Mississippi State contingent did. The Irish aren’t ready to shed tears for the end of the season yet because they still have at least one more game. Here are what Ivey, Ebo and Westbeld said before preparing for the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend: