Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2018 51 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL one of the nation's top shot blockers and inside forces, will significantly aid the defensive cause. With only seven scholarship play- ers last winter, the first goal was not to get anyone into foul trouble in the first half (defined as two fouls), so Notre Dame was willing to concede baskets — and then make a stronger push in the second half in an effort to survive and advance. McGraw played probably the most zone ever in her 31-year Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ca- reer with the Irish in an effort to pro- tect the starters. That at times led to a "cruise control" mentality on defense while then letting their firepower on offense take command, especially in the second half. That won't be acceptable this year. "Really it's going to be more about defense and all the things we can do now that we couldn't do before," McGraw said of the preseason objec- tives. "Everything is going to be new defensively." Meanwhile, because of Patberg's 2017 transfer, and season-ending in- juries to the now graduated Mychal Johnson and Lili Thompson, Mabrey had to shift to point guard, which she had never played. The fiery and sharp-shooting Mabrey will remain in that starting role with newly crowned legend Ogunbowale and Young in the backcourt/wing, while Shepard and Turner provide a lethal one-two punch along the front line or high/low post. Seeing how they coalesce without getting in each other's way also will be assessed closely by the staff. Freshman Jordan Nixon is the most natural point guard on the team and will see extensive action, while classmate Katlyn Gilbert — both Mc- Donald's All-Americans — also has played point but will be an off guard her first season, per McGraw. The trip provides an ideal opportunity to experiment. "We're going to look at a lot of com- binations in Europe," McGraw said. "It's not going to be about, 'Here's my starting team, let's see how they look.' It's going to be, 'Here's this team, here are these different five, and let's see how they play together.' "It's not even about winning. They are like scrimmages, so you have a chance to evaluate, and hopefully the competition will be good enough so that we can at least learn something about ourselves. "Getting Brianna back in is going to be important, and Mikayla as well. I will probably start different teams each game just so I can get that feel of, 'Hey, Jordan, take over with the starters.' I also want to see how Mi- kayla and 'Bri' work together. Then [sophomore forward] Danielle Pat- terson coming off a year where she learned a lot, where is she going to be in the mix?" Interestingly, freshman wing Abby Prohaska made the 12-woman cut for the 2018 U.S. Women's U18 National Team that was to play in Mexico City in an eight-team international tournament. However, she forfeited her spot on the roster because the Aug. 1-7 dates coincided with Notre Dame's trip to Europe. (Anaya Peo- ples, a 2019 Irish commit, also made the roster and will play for Team USA because she is not yet enrolled at Notre Dame.) Life on top of the women's basket- ball world comes with many such decisions. ✦ Arike Ogunbowale Wins 'Best Play' At ESPY Awards Of the millions of plays run in every sporting event — pro, college, high school — during the 2017‑18 year in sports, none captured the nation's imagination more than current Notre Dame senior Arike Ogunbowale's running three‑point basket at the horn that gave the Irish a 61‑58 win over Missis‑ sippi State in the national title game April 1. The ESPY Awards July 18 in Los Angeles saw that play defeat 15 other finalists for the best in 2017‑18. "Thank you guys, everybody who voted," Ogun‑ bowale said in her speech, with her teammates and coaches also at the event. "First, shout out to my amazing teammates. It was a team effort — you guys know this, and I wouldn't be up here without you guys, so thank you. "Shout out to the best coaching staff in the coun‑ try. You guys have given my teammates and I an amazing opportunity to play at one of the best universities in the world and be able to compete at the highest level, so thank you so much. "And shout out to women's basketball as a whole. There's a lot of people with their opinions about us, but all I've got to say is come see us on the court. So thank you." No category at the ESPY Awards had more nomi‑ nees than the 16 for "Best Play." The other 15 included the "Minnesota Miracle" that saw Stefon Diggs make the last‑second touchdown catch to send the Vikings to the NFC championship game, Alabama winning the national title on 41‑yard overtime TD pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Devonta Smith, and LeBron James' two buzzer beaters in the NBA playoffs. The Notre Dame women's basketball team also was also one of seven finalists for Best Team (won by the Houston Astros) and four for the Best Moment (won by the Minnesota Miracle in the NFC divisional playoff). — Lou Somogyi 2018-19 SCHOLARSHIP ROSTER Seniors 5‑11 point guard/wing Marina Mabrey 5‑8 guard/wing Arike Ogunbowale 6‑4 forward Jessica Shepard 6‑3 forward Brianna Turner Junior 6‑1 guard/wing Jackie Young Sophomores 6‑2 forward Danielle Patterson 6‑3 forward Mikayla Vaughn Freshmen 6‑4 forward Danielle Cosgrove 5‑10 guard/wing Katlyn Gilbert 5‑8 point guard Jordan Nixon 5‑10 guard/wing Abby Prohaska Arike Ogunbowale's dramatic, buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave Notre Dame a 61-58 victory over Mississippi State defeated 15 other finalists for the best play in 2017-18. PHOTO BY JOSH BATES