Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL straight NCAA Tournament appear- ances from 2009-13), Cable turned the momentum around with a three- pointer followed by a midcourt steal and layup to lead a 75-64 win. "I just try to set a good example for the young kids, work as hard as I can and help the team to win," said Ca- ble, who is to the women's team what Steve Vasturia has been to the Irish men, and is just as understated when speaking about herself. "It's fun just to go out and play ev- ery day with this kind of group that plays like a team," she added. "People might not know what you're going to bring, but we have so many weapons on this team that it makes it easy for somebody else to have a big game." Although she's been a stat sheet stuffer with her overall play, Cable isn't focused on individual numbers. "I don't really look too much at the stat sheet," she said. "I try to look more at the team goals: How did we do on defense? Did we execute what we practiced on offense? Did we fol- low through on the game plan — the bigger picture things." Previously known for her instant en- ergy off the bench on both ends of the floor, Cable is an established starter this season. "Either way you have to go into the game ready to play and ready to make an impact," she said. "You have to play hard, regardless." Perhaps most underrated is her three-point shooting. She entered this season shooting 44.4 percent from be- yond the arc, behind only 1999-2003 sharpshooter Alicia Ratay — who set the NCAA record at 47.6 percent — on the school's career list. This year, Cable has converted a team-best 8 of 15 (53.3 percent) threes through four games. Other teammates are bound to emerge more as the season progresses, but count on Cable to remain the glue gun on the team, whatever her num- bers will be. "Every year we go through a loss of players and wonder, 'How is this team going to react?'" Cable said. "I think ev- ery year we've done a good job to find our chemistry. Everyone finds her role and plays it well. I think that's happen- ing again with this team." With Cable, ever so quietly, at the forefront. ✦ Three-Point Play 1. Balancing Act — Last year Jewell Loyd was a dominant scorer with an average of 19.8 points per game, but this season head coach Muffet McGraw doesn't see many nights where one player will score more than 18. Through four games, the leading scorer was sophomore post Brianna Turner with 14.3 points per contest, followed by fifth-year senior wing Madison Cable (13.8), sophomore forward Kathryn Westbeld (12-0), and freshman guards Marina Mabrey (10.3) and Arike Ogunbowale (10.0). Look for juniors Taya Reimer (7.7) and Lindsay Allen (5.5) to expand their scoring as the season pro- gresses. Reimer has averaged only 17.7 minutes per game while recovering from an Achilles injury, while the point guard Allen has attempted only 21 shots while getting others involved in the offense. She reflects the team's unselfishness.