The outdated adage “adversity builds character” is probably going a proverb as a result of it’s the reality. There’s no higher instance of that than the No. 3 ranked Notre Dame Preventing Irish ladies’s basketball group.
Final season, the Irish have been with out star guard Olivia Miles, who suffered an ACL tear that took her out for all the season. Even so, Notre Dame was nonetheless a ranked group because of All-American freshman level guard Hannah Hidalgo. The Irish made it to the 2024 Candy Sixteen and no additional, a possible ceiling for a aspect that basically overachieved with out Miles and with others on the roster dipping out and in of the rotation attributable to damage points.
This season, Notre Dame confirmed folks the potential of the dynamic backcourt duo of Miles and Hidalgo, misplaced a pair video games early within the season, however entered the 2025 calendar 12 months using excessive.
A robust Irish group options the nation’s second main scorer in Hidalgo, a triple-double risk in Miles and a shock standout switch ahead in Liatu King. This 12 months’s squad bought even stronger with the return of Maddy Westbeld to begin the second half of the season.
All properly and good for the Irish, till Thursday.
Head coach Niele Ivey’s aspect welcomed the No. 17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to the Joyce Middle Thursday night time. The Irish gained 81-66 however not due to all the explanations listed above. Notre Dame gained with out their apparent strengths however with chemistry and teamwork from a bunch of gamers that don’t seize nationwide headlines.
Notre Dame gained with out Hidalgo, lacking her second consecutive sport after struggling an ankle sprain final week in opposition to Wake Forest. Miles and King nonetheless performed, however Miles solely scored six factors on 3-of-10 capturing within the first three quarters whereas King scored close to her season low with six factors.
The Preventing Irish additionally missed guard Emma Risch on high of Hidalgo, requiring a seven-player rotation in opposition to a bodily Yellow Jackets program.
What labored for the Irish was the play of the standard supporting solid of gamers. Those on the roster who’re all extremely touted recruits however typically fall into the shadow of the excellent work of Hidalgo and Miles.
“This can be a group that has a number of weapons and so when one individual is down any individual else can step up there’s 5 folks on the ground that may rating,” stated Ivey. “They perceive that they’re very unselfish, so tonight was Sonia [Citron] and Maddy [Westbeld].
For Westbeld, it was a particular second. After beginning all 120 video games of her NCAA profession, the guard suffered a foot damage that required surgical procedure and time away from the court docket. Thursday was Westbeld’s first begin since coming back from damage Jan. 5.
Westbeld responded, scoring a season excessive 20 factors with 5 rebounds. The senior was 8-of-11 from the ground, together with 2-of-3 from past the arc as she fed off the loud South Bend crowd.
“It was unbelievable. I feel it’s only a blessing to get on the court docket once more and play with my teammates,” stated Westbeld. “Clearly to begin out the sport is admittedly particular to me so it’s been unlucky circumstances however in any approach to simply play with my teammates once more it feels nice.”
Citron led the Irish in scoring with 21 factors, the senior’s fourth sport this season reaching at the very least 20 factors in a sport, and it didn’t embody a single three-point shot. Citron was wherever the Irish wanted her, whether or not it’s taking contested layups inside or hitting midrange pictures with effectivity. The guard had her finest capturing night time of the season, hitting 9-of-11 inside the perimeter.
Cassandre Prosper performed 36 minutes for the second sport in a row, filling in for Hidalgo’s lacking minutes. Within the win, Prosper scored 15 factors for her fourth double-figure scoring sport of the season, matching her complete in two earlier seasons mixed.
“She got here in and was prepared within the first half after which second half went with a 3 guard line up as a result of their guards have been doing an important job of getting downhill, so I believed she was able to play,” stated Ivey. “She gave nice minutes did an important job defensively and did some nice job scoring.”
Prosper hit half of the Irish’s six three-point pictures on the day, plus 9 rebounds and three assists off the bench.
Now, the margin of victory seems to be prefer it was fairly simple going for the Irish however Georgia Tech was something however a group who could possibly be walked over.
Georgia Tech performed aggressively, discovering area behind the Notre Dame protection and taking pictures early within the shot clock, making an attempt to make up for the sheer dimension of the Irish inside that out rebounded the Yellow Jackets 50-25.
Coach Ivey’s seven-player rotation saved adjusting and making issues tough for Georgia Tech. It began on the bounce, when Ivey began three forwards to emphasize dimension over the smaller Yellow Jackets. When Georgia Tech adjusted, twice they reduce close to double-digit leads right down to a single possession, even getting a lead briefly to begin the second half. That’s when Citron and Prosper scored 13 of the Irish’s 22 third quarter factors.
“Georgia Tech is among the finest in ACC, having a improbable season,” stated Ivey. “So, I believed this group actually resilient got here out and simply actually accomplished this sport.”
By the point Miles started hitting her capturing stride, the Irish have been already up 18 factors thanks to a whole group efficiency.
If the Irish can do that with out their main scorer and defender, and with key scorers having off nights on the identical time, it has the making for a particular season.
“This group is sweet,” stated Georgia Tech head coach Nell Fortner in regards to the Irish. “Notre Dame, that’s a Closing 4 group proper there. Little question about it.”
Earlier than the sport, Ivey obtained a basketball for her one centesimal win, the quickest ND coach to realize 100 victories. After the sport, Ivey was speaking about simply how this group is totally different from the others.
“I don’t really feel prefer it’s a job I get to come back in do what I really like with a group that I really like however they’re a particular group,” stated Ivey. “I’m actually grateful for them I’m actually blessed to work with a lot expertise, but additionally simply nice folks.”
