Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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In Notre Dame's high-post, Princeton offense, Achonwa is almost like the point guard and is actually second on the team in assists, behind Diggins. "With the offense that we run, we go a lot through the high post, so it's difficult for teams to guard so many of our great players," Achonwa said of her production as a passer. "We have everyone coming off those screen-away cuts that we run, and somebody is going to be open, whether it's the person popping back or the person cutting to the basket. "They're either going to sag off me and I'll have my open shot, or if they decide to guard me, then I think I have a lot of cutters and a lot of options to pick from. My teammates make it easy for me." Because Achonwa's skill set employs more finesse, she's not a classic low-post player like a Griner, but McGraw is not reluctant to categorizes her as among the elite in the country at her position. "If she spends more time on the block she'll get a little more attention," McGraw said. "She can score in a lot of different ways and I would like to see her score more on the blocks." That process has been mixed in a little more this season. "I need to earn that," Achonwa said of being recognized more for her lowpost play. "That's something I hadn't really done earlier in this season. I think we're incorporating it a little more, getting shots in the block or getting shots in the paint. Most of the time I face up and shoot a lot of jumpers, and a lot of finesse plays. "[Playing down low] is a part of my game that I've been developing, and I'm working on my hook shot a lot. It's just about expanding on that." Playing on the big stage, though, is not an issue for Achonwa. The secondyoungest women's basketball player at the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, Achonwa saw her game and confidence rise exponentially while helping lead her native Canada (she is from Guelph, Ont.) to the medal round for the first time since 1984, highlighted by scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a 64-60 loss to France, which won the silver medal. "The Olympics were a great confidence builder for me," she said. "I knew a rebounding void had to be filled this year without Dev, so that was something I really concentrated on, because our offense will be there. In terms of blocked shots, that's not really my game, so we're lucky that [junior forward] Ariel [Braker] has stepped up in that category. "It's just an effort and mindset to focus on, making sure we're picking up all the loose balls and not giving them second opportunities and taking advantage of our defensive hard work." Guard play garners much of the attention come tourney time, but Achonwa will have to be a center of attention, literally and figuratively. "It's all about timing with a season that is so long," Achonwa said. "Hopefully you peak at the right time." Balancing Act With all five of its starters scoring in double figures, Notre Dame won its 18th straight game on Feb. 11 with a