FG Made-Attem 25-57 21-40
Field Goal % 43.9 52.5
3PT Made-Atte 7-14 4-10
Three Point % 50.0 40.0
FT Made-Attem 3-4 16-19
Free Throw % 75.0 84.2
Total Rebounds 23 28
Offensive Rebs 13 10
Defensive Rebs 10 18
Team Rebounds 0 0
Assists 15 13
Steals 6 4
Blocks 2 1
Turnovers 6 12
Team Turnovers 0 0
Total Turnovers 6 12
Personal Fouls 16 10
Technical Fouls 0 1
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
TOs 6 12
PtsOffTO 17 10
2ndChPts 15 10
BenchPts 18 0
PtsPaint 28 28
FstBkPt 13 2
STARTERS FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
S. Thomas F 8-20 0-0 1-2 3 3 6 1 0 1 1 3 17
C. White C 3-6 0-0 0-0 4 2 6 0 0 1 0 3 6
A. Degbeon C 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 2
I. Wright G 3-11 2-6 0-0 0 3 3 4 2 0 0 1 8
A. Alix G 3-6 3-4 0-0 1 0 1 4 1 0 3 3 9
BENCH FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
N. Ekhomu G 5-12 2-4 2-2 4 2 6 4 2 0 1 1 14
N. Woolfolk G 2-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 3 4
TEAM 25-59 7-14 3-4 13 12 25 15 6 2 6 16 60
43.9% 50.0% 75.0%
STARTERS FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
J. Shepard F 3-5 0-0 7-7 2 4 6 1 0 0 4 1 13
K. Westbeld F 5-7 0-2 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 10
M. Mabrey G 7-14 4-7 5-8 2 4 6 2 0 0 1 2 23
A. Ogunbowale G 4-12 1-4 0-0 2 4 6 5 2 0 3 2 9
J. Young G 3-4 0-0 4-4 0 3 3 2 1 0 3 2 10
BENCH FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
D. Patterson F 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
K. Nelson F 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 0
TEAM 22-43 5-13 16-19 10 20 30 13 4 1 12 10 65
51.2% 36.4% 84.2%
FG Made-Attem 33-74 31-56
Field Goal % 44.6 55.4
3PT Made-Atte 8-18 6-16
Three Point % 44.4 37.5
FT Made-Atte 6-7 22-26
Free Throw % 85.7 84.6
Total Rebounds 28 37
Offensive Rebs 15 13
Defensive Rebs 13 24
Assists 19 17
Steals 6 4
Blocks 2 2
Total Turnovers 7 13
Personal Fouls 20 14
Technical Fouls 0 1
PtsOffTO 20 12
2ndChPts 17 16
BenchPts 22 0
PtsPaint 38 42
FstBkPt 13 4
STARTERS MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
S. ThomasF 32 10-22 0-0 4-5 3 4 7 1 0 1 1 4 24
C. WhiteC 19 4-7 0-0 0-0 4 2 6 0 0 1 0 4 8
A. DegbeonC 32 2-3 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 1 1 0 1 3 4
I. WrightG 37 5-17 3-9 0-0 0 3 3 4 2 0 0 1 13
A. AlixG 27 3-7 3-5 0-0 1 0 1 6 1 0 3 4 9
BENCH MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
N. EkhomuG 35 7-15 2-4 2-2 4 2 6 5 2 0 1 1 18
N. WoolfolkG 18 2-3 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 2 0 0 1 3 4
TEAM 33-74 8-18 6-7 15 13 28 19 6 2 7 20 80
44.6% 44.4% 85.7%
STARTERS MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
J. ShepardF 36 3-5 0-0 11-11 3 7 10 2 0 0 5 3 17
K. WestbeldF 27 6-8 0-2 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 12
M. MabreyG 35 8-17 4-9 7-10 2 5 7 4 0 0 1 2 27
A. OgunbowaleG 40 9-18 2-5 0-0 3 4 7 5 2 0 3 2 20
J. YoungG 36 5-7 0-0 4-5 0 4 4 3 1 0 3 4 14
BENCH MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
D. PattersonF 05 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
K. NelsonF 21 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 3 1 2 1 1 0
TEAM 31-56 6-16 22-26 13 24 37 17 4 2 13 14 90
55.4% 37.5% 84.6%
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- For the ninth consecutive year, the No. 5 University of Notre Dame women's basketball team will play in a conference tournament title game after earning a thrilling 90-80 win over No. 11 Florida State. The No. 2 seeded Irish (28-2) trailed by as much as eight points midway through the third quarter, but went on to outscore the No. 3 seeded Seminoles (25-5), 42-24 for the remainder of the game.
Marina Mabrey came up huge for the Irish with a season high 27 points to go with her seven rebounds and four assists. The four other Irish starters all finished in double figures as well, with Arike Ogunbowale tallying her 20th 20-point game this afternoon, while Jessica Shepard notched her 10th double-double.
“I thought defensively in the first half, we just didn't have the effort in our zone,” Karen & Kevin Keyes Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw said. “I tried to mix up the defense a little bit, but I really didn't want to play man-to-man because Shakayla Thomas is such a handful for us to guard - she's a phenomenal player.
“We were much better in the second half where they only had two threes. I thought Marina Mabrey had just a gutty performance. She just did absolutely everything we needed her to do.”
How It Happened
With Notre Dame trailing 9-8 in the first quarter, Marina Mabrey took over, kickstarting a 10-0 Irish run in which she tallied eight of the points. Florida State later hit back-to-back threes to close the gap but a Mabrey trey at the buzzer not only gave the junior 12 points for the opening period, but also a 23-15 lead for the Irish.
Both sides traded baskets in the early goings of the second quarter until Notre Dame recorded a 6-0 run starting at the 5:12 mark to build a 38-32 advantage. Yet the Seminoles recaptured both the lead and momentum by ending the quarter on a 14-4 scoring stretch, as the Irish trailed 43-42 at the half.
Notre Dame later trailed 56-48 at 4:30 in the third, its largest deficit of the game. That’s when the Irish not only found a second gear, but also began to get to the free-throw line often. Notre Dame went on to outscore the Seminoles 14-4 to end the quarter, in which seven points came from the stripe. In addition, Mabrey connected on a momentous three-pointer at the buzzer in front of her own bench, reclaiming the lead for the Irish at 62-60.
Next, Ogunbowale did what Ogunbowale does best, which is take over the fourth quarter. The junior picked up right where Mabrey left off, connecting on a trey to start the fourth, then tallied nine points alone in the period by the 4:29 mark, pushing the Irish lead to 79-68. Ogunbowale went on to score 14 points in the fourth, capped by a three-point dagger at the 1:25 mark, which gave the Irish an 88-78 advantage, before finishing at the 90-80 final.
Player of the Game
Marina Mabrey led the Irish with 27 points, which included a 4-for-9 day from beyond the arc. Two of her three-pointers came right at the buzzer at the end of both the first and third quarters. Mabrey has now recorded a total of 51 points in two days of the ACC Tournament.
Stat of the Game
Jessica Shepard’s 10th double-double on the year was powered by a career-high tying 11-for-11 night from the free-throw line. It also stood as the best individual free-throw performance by an Irish player this season and second most free-throws made.
Notes
- Notre Dame now leads the all-time series vs Florida State, 8-0.
- The Irish remain perfect in ACC Tournament play, extending their record to 14-0. Duke holds the record at 17 straight wins. When dating back to the final year in the Big East, the Irish have won 17 consecutive conference tournament games. Overall, Notre Dame is now 50-19 in conference tournaments.
- The Irish have now advanced to their ninth consecutive conference tournament title game and fifth straight in the ACC (in five years in the league).
- Notre Dame defeated its ninth top-25 ranked opponent on the year, which ties UConn for the most in the nation.
- Notre Dame also earned its seventh ranked win away from home, which leads the country.
- Mabrey is averaging 25.5 points in two games of the ACC Tournament.
- Ogunbowale collected her ACC leading 20th game of 20 or more points. The junior finished with 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
- Ogunbowale, who leads the squad in fourth quarter scoring, was back at it again today with 14 points in the final period. It marked the sixth time this year she scored double-digit points in the fourth alone.
- Shepard recorded her 10th double-double on the year with 17 points and 10 rebounds. She is one double-double away from cracking Notre Dame’s top-8 list for most in a single season.
- Shepard’s 11-for-11 night from the free-throw line tied her career high in free-throws made. It also marked the best free-throw percentage outing for an Irish player this year and second most free-throws made in a game behind Ogunbowale’s 12 vs Miami on Jan. 4.
- Westbeld earned her 10th game in double figures this afternoon with 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
- Young notched her 24th game in double figures with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Up Next
The Irish advance to Sunday’s ACC Tournament championship game for the fifth consecutive year. Notre Dame will receive its much anticipated rematch with No. 4 Louisville, who defeated No. 23 NC State, 64-59, in the earlier semifinal. Sunday’s title game will tip-off at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
MUFFET McGRAW: Well, I thought defensively in the first half, we just didn't have the effort in our zone. I thought our slides were slow. Our communication was bad. They were really on fire from the three-point line.
Tried to mix up the defense a little bit, but really didn't want to play man-to-man because Shakayla Thomas is just such a handful for us to guard. She's a phenomenal player. She had a great game, really, really difficult matchup but Wright is the one we were worried about on the three point line and everybody was making shots.
Much better in the second half. They only had two threes in the second half. I thought Marina Mabrey, just a gutty performance, just did absolutely everything we needed her to do.
Q. Coach, talk a little if you could have Arike and Marina and the chemistry they share and what they brought in the second half?
MUFFET McGRAW: Yeah, I thought Arike was a little frustrated if the first half and let her emotions get the best of her, and I thought in the second half she had a very much where she was absolutely unstoppable. Her and Marina just play really well off of each other. They help each other. They know each other's moves and where they want the ball, and I thought, you know, giving Marina the 24-footer at the shotclock buzzer was just a great strategy.
Q. You anticipated my question, but Marina, have to ask you about the three-pointers at the end of the buzzer, especially in the third because that turned a one-point deficit to a two-point lead which is a pretty big swing. Can you talk about those two shots a little bit?
MARINA MABREY: Well, they went in. I just knew there was a couple seconds left. I had to shoot it, and even though it kind of looks like a chuck-up, I've just got to make sure my shoulders are squared to give myself the best chance to make the shot.
Q. Can you talk about tomorrow's matchup against Louisville and what fans might expect to see?
MUFFET McGRAW: Well, I think both teams, after having played two pretty tough games, are going to come in with just a little bit of -- well, maybe a lack of energy. But I think both of us know the adrenaline will start pumping when the game gets going, and they have really took it to us in Louisville. So we hope that we can come out and compete with them tomorrow.
Q. Why were you guys as successful as you were on the boards, particularly the longer the game went on? Jessica, why were you as successful as you were on the boards, particularly the longer the game went on?
JESSICA SHEPARD: I mean, I think coach put a huge emphasis at halftime as she did at the beginning of the game but we didn't do a good job of taking care of it in the first half. But we just have to rebound better, and I mean, even, I don't know what that number ended up, but it was just more effort in the second half.
Q. You haven't had exactly a smooth rode to get here as far as all the injuries and remaking a team as you go. Is there a special, I guess, satisfaction to be back in this position like what you always have been despite what you guys have had to overcome?
MUFFET McGRAW: Yeah, there really. Is we're the underdog this year. It's a position we're not used to, and it is one that we're really enjoying right now.
I think it's going to be a testament to the perseverance and relentlessness. You saw the spirit, the fighting spirit that Marina today, and I think what's what the whole team is going to need tomorrow.
Q. Talk about your matchup tomorrow against Louisville's Myisha in the low post?
JESSICA SHEPARD: Yeah, Louisville has some really great players and I think for us it's going to be about team defense and that's what's going to lead to easy offense. I think, you know, we're just going to have to go over with the coaches, have us go over and we're going to have to come in with the mindset that we're going to stop them tomorrow.
Q. Being the No. 1 seed throughout since you came to the ACC and now you're the No. 2 seed, does it feel different in the tournament?
MUFFET McGRAW: It feels a little different, knowing that we are certainly the under do you go, pressure is all on Louisville tomorrow. They are the team that's supposed to win.
Q. Looked like all five of your starters were in double figures scoring today. Talk about the balance of your team's offense.
MUFFET McGRAW: You know, we have so many players that are capable of stepping up and having a big night, and really, any one of the starters can do that. And tonight, we really spread it around a little bit more, and I thought we did a good job of finding the open guy.
Q. With the injuries with the point guard situation, more is being asked of you with ball handling. Do I think it's taken time for you guys to settle in and figure out what you have now because it's a very different team from what you thought you would have when you started the season.
MARINA MABREY: Yeah, sure. I mean, we definitely needed to some time to figure out, get some chemistry with me being at the point and not being on the wing. But I think everyone's help me out a lot, and we're coming together well.
AMY YAKOLA: Thank you all very much. We'll see you tomorrow.
FG Made-Atte 7-14 9-15
Field Goal % 50.0 60.0
3PT Made-Atte 0-3 2-5
Three Point % 0.0 40.0
FT Made-Attem 7-7 1-2
Free Throw % 100.0 50.0
Total Rebounds 6 5
Offensive Rebs 2 1
Defensive Rebs 4 4
Team Rebounds 0 0
Assists 4 7
Steals 1 0
Blocks 0 0
Turnovers 1 2
Team Turnovers 0 0
Total Turnovers 1 2
Personal Fouls 2 6
Technical Fouls 0 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
PtsOffTO 2 0
2ndChPts 2 1
BenchPts 0 0
PtsPaint 12 12
FstBkPt 2 6