Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 30, 2019 49 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL just from the perimeter, but also has a nice pull-up and can score around the basket. I'm really excited about her potential to stretch the defense." MADDY WESTBELD 6-2, FORWARD Kettering, Ohio, Fairmont High Top 100 Rankings: No. 23 ESPN Hoop- Gurlz, No. 27 Prospects Nation Facts & Figures: Younger sister of 2014-18 Notre Dame forward Kath- ryn Westbeld, who tallied 1,076 ca- reer points and was "The Glue" of the 2018 national champions … Aver- aged 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a junior … Is considered a smart, proficient passer, prompting McGraw to refer to her as "a Larry Bird type of player" because of her versatility … Led team in assists, blocks and free throw percentage as well. Outlook: Her height and rebound- ing skills should provide a comple- ment to Brunelle. McGraw: "Maddy is a 6-3 guard who can shoot, pass, rebound, take the ball off the rim and go coast-to- coast. She's underrated from the na- tional scouting services. She's going to be a huge impact player for us." AMIRAH ABDUR-RAHIM 6-2, FORWARD Marietta, Ga. St. Francis High Top 100 Rankings: Not ranked after miss- ing most of junior year with knee injury — but was ranked on ESPN's 2020 "Super 60" prior to that season. Facts & Figures: As a sophomore, she helped her team to a 26-5 mark and the semifinals of the 2018 Geor- gia Independent Schools state tour- nament, averaging 9.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game … One of 13 brothers and sisters … Older brother Shareef starred in the NBA from 1996-2008 while another brother, Amir, is the men's head coach at Ken- nesaw State … In track she competes in the 200, 400 and 800 meter relays, plus high jump and triple jump. Outlook: Her size and exceptional athletic skills will provide a boost to the front line, although immedi- ate playing time might be hard to achieve. McGraw: "She is a great defender who can block shots and guard any- body on the floor, from point guard to center. She'll help us in the press, can run the floor and help us in tran- sition. She's also a three-point threat. We don't have anyone like her." NATALIJA MARSHALL 6-5, CENTER Queens, N.Y., Christ The King School Top 100 Rankings: No. 32 ESPN Hoop- Gurlz, No. 19 by Pros- pects Nation Facts & Figures: All-New York City the past three years, she had been ranked as high as No. 12 by ESPN HoopGurlz while playing for a premier program that has produced past All-Americans such as UConn's Sue Bird and Tina Charles, and Ten- nessee legend Chamique Holdsclaw … Last year, she helped her school to a 24-4 mark en route to the New York State Federation championship while averaging 13.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots per contest. Outlook: Her consistent post pres- ence will instantly result in playing time. McGraw: "We are in desperate need of post players right now, and Nat is a perfect fit for everything we do. She can run the floor, she can score with ease, she can defend and block shots, so she'll help us in the press. We are really excited about gaining such a high quality post player." ✦ 2019-20 NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Nov. 5 at Fordham W, 60-55 Nov. 8 Loyola Maryland W, 84-60 Nov. 11 Tennessee L, 74-63 Nov. 14 Michigan State L, 72-69 Nov. 20 Toledo W, 54-51 Nov. 23 at Michigan W, 76-72 Nov. 28 vs. Florida Gulf Coast^ 1:30 p.m. Nov. 29 vs. South Dakota State^ 11 a.m. Nov. 30 vs. South Florida^ 11 a.m. Dec. 4 Minnesota (ACCN) 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at Connecticut (ESPN) 4 p.m. Dec. 11 DePaul (ACCN) 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21 Guelph& 1 p.m. Dec. 29 Clemson* (RSN) 4 p.m. Jan. 2 at Pittsburgh* (ACCNE) 7 p.m. Jan. 5 at Syracuse* (ACCN) 4 p.m. Jan. 9 Boston College* (ACCNE) 7 p.m. Jan. 12 NC State* (ACCN) 4 p.m. Jan. 16 at Duke* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Jan. 19 Miami* (ESPN2/ACCN) 1 p.m. Jan. 26 at Virginia* (ACCNE) 12:30 p.m. Jan. 30 Louisville* (ESPN/2) 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Georgia Tech* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at Wake Forest* (ACCNE) 7 p.m. Feb. 9 Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 4 p.m. Feb. 13 at Boston College* (ACCNE) 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at Louisville* (ACCN) 3 p.m. Feb. 20 Virginia Tech* (RSN) 8 p.m. Feb. 23 Syracuse* (ACCN) 12 p.m. Feb. 27 North Carolina* (ACCNE) 7 p.m. Mar. 1 at Florida State* ( ESPN2/ACCN) 2 p.m. Mar. 4-8 ACC Tournament$ (ACCN) TBA ^ Cancun Challenge at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico; & Exhibition; % ACC/Big Ten Challenge; * ACC game; $ at Greensboro, N.C; ACCN — ACC Network; BTN — Big Ten Network; RSN — Regional Sports Networks; ACCNE — ACC Network Extra IRISH RALLY LATE TO DEFEAT BOTH TOLEDO AND MICHIGAN Mental toughness is beginning to show itself again for the Fighting Irish. A late rally enabled Notre Dame to defeat Toledo 54-51 at home Nov. 20, and three days later at No. 21 Michigan a fourth-quarter comeback sparked a 76-72 triumph. The Rockets built a 31-22 lead before freshman forward Sam Brunelle (19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks), sophomore guard Katlyn Gilbert (11 points, eight rebounds and three steals) and a col- lective defensive effort rallied the Irish to victory. A 10-foot jumper by Gilbert finally put Notre Dame ahead for good at 47-46. Notre Dame ratcheted up its defensive pressure, forcing three shot-clock violations in the fourth quarter alone and made several other crucial stops. On the road versus the Wolverines, Notre Dame entered the fourth quarter trailing 61-57, but more defensive pressure (Michigan was 2 of 13 in the fourth quarter with seven turnovers), a superb shooting display by fifth-year senior guard Destinee Walker (27 points on 9 of 14 from the floor, 5 of 8 beyond the three-point line) and Brunelle's developing "clutch gene" late again helped the Irish rally. Brunelle scored nine of her 12 points in the closing minutes, including a three. Freshman guard Anaya Peoples added 13 points and five rebounds, while Gilbert chipped in 12 points and fifth-year senior point guard Marta Sniezek contributed five steals and five assists. Notre Dame won despite getting crushed 53-24 in rebounds, including 27-5 on the offensive glass. — Lou Somogyi