The outdated adage “adversity builds character” is probably going a proverb as a result of it’s the reality.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 Combating 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 facet that actually overachieved with out Miles and with others on the roster dipping out and in of the rotation because of harm 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 yr driving excessive.
A robust Irish group options the nation’s second main scorer in Hidalgo, a triple-double menace in Miles and a shock standout switch ahead in Liatu King. This yr’s squad obtained even stronger with the return of Maddy Westbeld to begin the second half of the season.
All nicely and good for the Irish, till Thursday.
Head coach Niele Ivey’s facet welcomed the No. 17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to the Joyce Middle Thursday evening. 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 towards 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 Combating Irish additionally missed guard Emma Risch on high of Hidalgo, requiring a seven-player rotation towards 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 usually 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 anyone else can step up there’s 5 folks on the ground that may rating,” mentioned 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 harm that required surgical procedure and time away from the courtroom. Thursday was Westbeld’s first begin since coming back from harm 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 believe it’s only a blessing to get on the courtroom once more and play with my teammates,” mentioned Westbeld. “Clearly to begin out the sport is de facto 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 no less than 20 factors in a sport, and it didn’t embrace a single three-point shot. Citron was wherever the Irish wanted her, whether or not it’s taking contested layups inside or hitting midrange photographs with effectivity. The guard had her greatest capturing evening 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 whole 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 a fantastic job of getting downhill, so I believed she was able to play,” mentioned Ivey. “She gave nice minutes did a fantastic job defensively and did some nice job scoring.”
Prosper hit half of the Irish’s six three-point photographs on the day, plus 9 rebounds and three assists off the bench.
Now, the margin of victory appears to be like prefer it was fairly straightforward going for the Irish however Georgia Tech was something however a group who may very well be walked over.
Georgia Tech performed aggressively, discovering area behind the Notre Dame protection and taking photographs early within the shot clock, attempting to make up for the sheer measurement of the Irish inside that out rebounded the Yellow Jackets 50-25.
Coach Ivey’s seven-player rotation stored adjusting and making issues troublesome for Georgia Tech. It began on the soar, when Ivey began three forwards to emphasize measurement 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 likely one of the greatest in ACC, having a unbelievable season,” mentioned 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 an entire 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 nice,” mentioned Georgia Tech head coach Nell Fortner concerning the Irish. “Notre Dame, that’s a Remaining 4 group proper there. Little doubt about it.”
Earlier than the sport, Ivey acquired a basketball for her a centesimal win, the quickest ND coach to attain 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,” mentioned Ivey. “I’m actually grateful for them I’m actually blessed to work with a lot expertise, but in addition simply nice folks.”
