Tag: Greenville Regional 1

Watch: Hype video for Notre Dame ahead of Sweet 16

Pump yourself up with this video!

Notre Dame is in the Sweet 16, and the time to get pumped is now. That’s why a video has been put together celebrating everything the Irish have done so far this season ahead of their Greenville Region 1 semifinal against Maryland. To make the video complete, two Irish legends were asked to narrate it. So take a look if you want to hear the voices of [autotag]Devereaux Peters[/autotag] and [autotag]Natalie Achonwa[/autotag]:

It’s fair to say the Irish have a tough journey ahead of them if they want to make the Final Four. If they beat the Terrapins, unbeaten and top-ranked South Carolina likely awaits in the Elite Eight. Considering no No. 1 seeds made the Elite Eight in the men’s NCAA Tournament, anything can happen. Getting out of this regional would be historic for the program, and the only thing to do in that case is to etch that history into the record books.

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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:

Notre Dame wins tough NCAA Tournament contest vs. Mississippi State

It got a little too close, but the Irish are moving on.

SOUTH BEND – No one said every NCAA Tournament game needs to look pretty. All that matters is whether you are ahead when the clock hits zero. As frustrating as it might have been at times, Notre Dame was ahead at the end of its second-round game against Mississippi State, 53-48. With two wins at Purcell Pavilion in the bag, the Irish will move onto Greenville Regional 1.

Neither the Irish (27-5) nor the Bulldogs (22-11) shot particularly well in this game. They finished with respective field-goal percentages of 34.7% and 29.5%. So naturally, this contest came down to the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs erased a 10-point Irish lead to tie the game at 41 in the fourth quarter. Tensions ran high on both sides with the season on the line. Everyone looked to see which moment would determine the outcome, and several appeared as if they would be the one. Ultimately, it came down to the basics as the Irish knocked down eight of 10 free throws in the final 3:49 and did just enough on defense to fend off a pesky opponent that was in it until the end.

[autotag]Sonia Citron[/autotag] particularly was clutch from the free-throw line as 10 of her team-high 14 points came from there. [autotag]Lauren Ebo[/autotag] was a nuisance for the Bulldogs throughout with 10 points, and Irish-tournament record 18 rebounds and five blocks. She got some help on the glass from [autotag]Maddy Westbeld[/autotag], who grabbed 15 boards.

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Notre Dame dominates Southern Utah in first-round NCAA Tournament game

Can’t start the tournament any better than that.

SOUTH BEND – It was understandable if anyone was having doubts about Notre Dame after [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag] was lost for the season. However, those same people might have forgotten one thing: The Irish still have some pretty darn good basketball players. That was on full display in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Southern Utah. In front of a mainly partisan crowd at Purcell Pavilion, the Irish owned the Thunderbirds throughout an 82-56 victory.

This game practically was over from the beginning as the Irish (26-5) rattled off 16 unanswered points at the start. Their offense found easy baskets almost at will, and their defense was as smothering as it’s been all season. The Thunderbirds (23-10) couldn’t respond with anything better than a 7-0 run. While they proved capable of being a tournament team at times, the Irish quickly erased those moments and asserted their authority as a third seed.

[autotag]Maddy Westbeld[/autotag] was the Irish’s dominant offensive force, scoring 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting. [autotag]Sonia Citron[/autotag] also picked up Miles’ slack with 14 points, six points and three steals. [autotag]Lauren Ebo[/autotag], playing in her first tournament game for the Irish but not her collegiate career, showed her experience with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. [autotag]Kylee Watson[/autotag] shot a perfect 6 of 6 for 12 points to go with seven rebounds, [autotag]KK Bransford[/autotag] finished with nine points and eight boards, and [autotag]Cassandre Prosper[/autotag] grabbed 10 of her own rebounds.

Given all of that, it should be no surprise that the Irish held a 53-25 rebounding advantage and a 50-18 edge in points in the paint, not to mention winning the second-chance points battle, 14-4. It’s unlikely every tournament game will be this easy, especially at the rim, but that didn’t make this win any less of a thrill. It’s why the Irish will play one final home contest this season with a trip to Greenville Regional 1 on the line.

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BREAKING: Notre Dame star Olivia Miles will miss NCAA Tournament

Definitely not what anyone wanted to hear.

Notre Dame’s path to its third national championship just got a lot tougher. After two-and-a-half weeks of speculation, the worst fears about [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag]’ availability for the NCAA Tournament have come true. Despite the best efforts of the Irish’s medical staff, the team will be without its best player for March Madness:

This is the second season-ending knee injury for the Irish in an otherwise excellent season. [autotag]Dara Mabrey[/autotag], another leader, went down for the season in January. While the Irish have done fine without her and and won a single ACC Tournament game without Miles, who suffered her injury in the regular-season finale, this team suddenly looks a lot more vulnerable.

There is little doubt that this will take some of the wind out of the Purcell Pavilion atmosphere when the Irish begin tournament play against Southern Utah. However, they have no choice but to press on. While this news definitely lowers the ceiling for this year’s team, especially with South Carolina likely looming later in Greenville Regional 1, you never know what could happen. That’s what this time is about after all.

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Notre Dame has third seed in NCAA Tournament, opens vs. Southern Utah

Get ready to rock Purcell Pavilion in the tournament, Irish fans!

It turned out [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag]’ uncertainty for the NCAA Tournament was irrelevant as far as Notre Dame’s seeding. The Irish received the third seed in Greenville Regional 1 and will face 14th-seeded Southern Utah, a first-time opponent for the program. The seeding means the Irish will host the first two rounds at Purcell Pavilion. If they beat the Thunderbirds, they will face either Creighton or the winner of the First Four game between Illinois and Mississippi State.

Irish fans might feel a little iffy about the regional because their team won’t be able to escape it without going through top-ranked and undefeated South Carolina. However, that bridge will be crossed when the time comes. For now, the Irish can enjoy the fact that their body of work was strong enough that they will get to stay home to begin their quest for their third national championship. Oh, and let’s hope Miles is healthy when the tournament begins.

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