Blue and Gold Illustrated

April 2020

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2020 49 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BRIEF HOPE Despite that loss at Boston College, improvements became more conspic- uous while the Irish posted a 6-3 led- ger from Feb. 2 to March 1. That streak was highlighted by the final two regular-season contests, an 83-65 victory versus North Carolina on Senior Day at home when Notre Dame was in command from start to finish and then a 70-67 upset at No. 19 Florida State March 1. In that final home game versus the Tar Heels, McGraw took to the micro- phone to give a heartfelt thanks to the more than 7,000 in attendance that sup- ported the team throughout the set- backs (see "They Said It" on page 14). The team was finally playing freely without getting caught up in what once was and living up to those standards. "This is what I thought we'd be," McGraw said. "I thought it would be earlier, but I'm just glad it came around. There were times when it was all about 'we're going to lose' and I think our mindset was wrong." Some grit remained until the end — highlighted by graduate transfer point guard Marta Sniezek shattering the school record with 33 charges taken — but overall the collapse against Pitt was the final exclamation point of McGraw's second losing season (14-17 in 1991-92) in 33 years. The starter goals for next year are a winning season, placing among the top four in the ACC and returning to NCAA Tournament action with what should be a more seasoned, deeper and hungrier outfit. For now, it's about patching the wounds and recovering from the aftershocks. ✦ Three-Point Play 1. Taking The Sixth Graduate transfer Destinee Walker, who finished as Notre Dame's leading scorer with a 14.5 average and received honor- able mention All-ACC accolades, has been approved by the NCAA to return for a sixth season of eligibility in 2020-21. She was sidelined all of 2017-18 at North Carolina with an injury, and played in only four early season contests in 2018-19 be- fore sitting out with another injury. "When I got here I applied for it right away," said Walker, who will be in the pres- tigious MSA (accounting) program in the Mendoza College of Business. With Walker's return, an incoming five- woman freshman class led by recent 6-3 McDonald's All-America selection Maddie Westbeld, and a return to health of sopho- more guard Abby Prohaska (pulmonary embolism, but she was fully practicing by February) and freshman guard Anaya Peoples (shoulder surgery), Notre Dame could have 12 scholarship players available in 2020-21. 2. Future Forecast Freshmen Sam Brunelle and Anaya Peo- ples plus sophomore Katlyn Gilbert — who redshirted last season because of shoulder surgery — made the ACC All-Freshman team voted on by a Blue Ribbon panel. Brunelle averaged 13.9 points (second on the team) and 5.8 rebounds (third) while converting a team-high 58 threes, a career-high seven on 11 attempts in the upset of No. 19 Florida State March 1. Gilbert averaged 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and was second on the team in assists with 80. Peoples played only 17 games prior to her shoulder surgery but made a huge impression during that time with a 12.6 scoring average and a team-high 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest. Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley won the ACC Freshman of the Year award over Brunelle. 3. A Leg To Stand On Having missed most of her freshman season with a torn ACL, junior center Mikki Vaughn had an inauspicious start with a sprained knee in this year's opener that sidelined her two months. In the 20 games she played Vaughn led the team in field goal percentage (58.4) and blocked shots (31), was second in rebounds (7.0 per game) and averaged 10.6 points while handicapped. "She's playing on one leg," head coach Muffet McGraw said in late February. "You can tell she gets tired quicker. She's getting beat up inside. She's giving it absolutely everything she has on every pos- session. She just continues to battle every play." — Lou Somogyi 2019-20 NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RESULTS Date Opponent Result 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^ L, 69-60 Nov. 29 vs. South Dakota State^ L, 65-59 Nov. 30 vs. South Florida^ W, 67-51 Dec. 4 Minnesota% L, 75-67 Dec. 8 at Connecticut L, 81-57 Dec. 11 DePaul L, 105-94 Dec. 29 Clemson* L, 71-55 Jan. 2 at Pittsburgh* W, 60-52 Jan. 5 at Syracuse* L, 74-63 (OT) Jan. 9 Boston College* L, 75-65 Jan. 12 NC State* L, 90-56 Jan. 16 at Duke* L, 50-47 Jan. 19 Miami* W, 76-53 Jan. 26 at Virginia* L, 90-60 Jan. 30 Louisville* L, 86-54 Feb. 2 at Georgia Tech* W, 59-51 Feb. 6 at Wake Forest* W, 75-71 Feb. 9 Pittsburgh* W, 74-52 Feb. 13 at Boston College* L, 56-55 Feb. 16 at Louisville* L, 82-49 Feb. 20 Virginia Tech* L, 68-62 Feb. 23 Syracuse* W, 72-70 Feb. 27 North Carolina* W, 83-65 Mar. 1 at Florida State* W, 70-67 Mar. 4 vs. Pittsburgh$ L, 67-65 ^ Cancun Challenge at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico; % ACC/Big Ten Challenge; * ACC game; $ ACC Tournament at Greensboro, N.C. Graduate transfer Destinee Walker has been approved by the NCAA to return for a rare sixth season of eligibil- ity in 2020-21. She finished as Notre Dame's leading scorer with a 14.5 average and earned honorable men- tion All-ACC honors. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER

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