SOUTH BEND — 4 fast ideas as No. 2 seed (Albany 1 Regional) Notre Dame ladies’s basketball heads again to the Candy 16 for a 3rd straight season and 20th time in program historical past following a 71-56 victory Monday over No. 7 Mississippi at Purcell Pavilion …
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☘ Maddy Westbeld was dominant from the leap
Scoring the final basket of an entertaining/gratifying/dominant first half, Irish senior ahead Maddy Westbeld broke out a smile, met the remainder of her teammates at halfcourt and provided three phrases.
“Let’s (freaking) go!”
Westbeld’s workmanlike first half (14 factors on five-of-eight from the ground, two rebounds, two steals) helped the Irish lead by as many as 19 and by 17 on the break. She obtained to her spots, made her pictures and simply performed an all-around straightforward/environment friendly sport. So did the Irish.
☘ One other good begin sealed this one
Bear in mind when sluggish begins had been the norm for Notre Dame? When it was frequent for the Irish to lookup within the first quarter and be down by double digits?
These days are lengthy gone. For the second straight match sport, Notre Dame was good early. The Irish defended. The Irish obtained out in transition. They made pictures. They had been up 21-9 after one and 43-26 at halftime. One other postseason straightforward one.
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☘ Notre Dame’s protection is not that good, is it?
The Irish settled early right into a 2/3 zone protection and dared the Rebels to determine it out. The Southeastern Convention crew performed prefer it had by no means seen a zone, a lot much less figured one out.
With 4 minutes left earlier than halftime, the Rebels had six subject targets and 11 turnovers. It missed pictures and made miscues in bunches, most of them towards the Irish zone. That allowed Notre Dame to get out in transition and construct an enormous lead.
As soon as that occurred, Ole Miss by no means had an opportunity.
☘ This one’s for you, Jack
Jack Swarbrick was there in Columbus, Ohio in 2018 when Notre Dame received its second nationwide championship. He was there in Greensboro, North Carolina earlier this month when Notre Dame received its sixth Atlantic Coast Convention match championship.
He was there Monday within the first row of Part 2 with college president Rev. John Jenkins. Besides on this present day, Swarbrick was not athletic director of his alma mater, a place he held since July 2008.
Monday was the primary day for Pete Bevacqua within the function, however Swarbrick couldn’t let go simply but. In a means, for the man who employed Niele Ivey, this win was a remaining parting reward.
Comply with South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (previously Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact: (574) 235-6153.