Notre Dame Women's Basketball Hosts Georgia Tech In Regular Season Home Finale

It’s Senior Night for the Notre Dame women’s basketball team as they play their home finale Thursday night. The Fighting Irish have won four straight games heading into the matchup with Georgia Tech.

Where: Notre Dame, Ind. – Purcell Pavilion
When: Thursday, Feb. 23 – 6:00 PM EST
Network: Regional Sports Networks
Radio: ND Radio Network, 99.9 FM WQLQ in South Bend – Sean Stires PBP

Let's take a look at today’s matchup:

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (22-4, 13-3 ACC)

Head Coach: Niele Ivey (56-22 – 3rd season at Notre Dame)

Notre Dame had a methodically workmanlike 83-43 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 43 points by the Panthers is the fewest the Fighting Irish have allowed in any game this season. The Irish led 40-16 at halftime and held the Panthers to 16 for 57 (28%) shooting in the game. Pitt missed its first nine 3-pointers before hitting four in the fourth quarter.

Maddy Westbeld and Sonia Citron led a balanced scoring attack with 13 points apiece. They combined to hit five of the team’s eight 3-pointers as well. Olivia Miles turned in a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists, while Lauren Ebo scored 10 in her most extensive action since missing five consecutive games with a lower leg injury.

The Irish swept both games from Pitt this season. They also beat Boston College and Syracuse twice in ACC play.

Projected Irish Starting Lineup

G Olivia Miles- 5-10, Soph. - 14.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.1 APG
G Sonia Citron - 6-1, Soph – 14.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.2 APG
F Kylee Watson - 6-4, Jr – 6.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 25 BLK
F Maddy Westbeld - 6-3, Jr. – 11.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 35 BLK
G KK Bransford – 5-11, Fr. - 8.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG

GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (13-14, 4-12 ACC)

Head Coach: Nell Fortner (232-162 in 15th season overall, 72-44 in 4th year at school)

After going 11-7 in ACC play last season, the Yellow Jackets lost their first seven conference games this season. Since upsetting then No. 15 NC State 68-62 on Feb. 2, Georgia Tech has lost four of its last five games and currently sits in a three-way tie for 12th place in the conference standings with Boston College and Virginia. Georgia Tech has been to the NCAA Tournament the last two years, but will need a miracle run to an ACC Tournament championship to claim an NCAA bid this season.

The Yellow Jackets lost 80-66 to Florida State on Sunday. Cameron Swartz led three players in double figures with 17 points. Swartz is Georgia Tech’s top 3-point threat. She has hit 42 of 166 (27%) from behind the arc this season. Her 1.7 3-pointers made per game ranks No. 10 in the ACC.

Projected Starting Lineup

F Aixa Wone Aranaz - Stats – 2.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG
F Kayla Blackshear - Stats – 7.5PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.0 APG
G Cameron Swartz - Stats – 12.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG
G Tonie Morgan – Stats – 9.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.7 APG
G Kara Dunn - Stats – 7.6, 3.4 RPG, 1.3 APG

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Thursday’s game is the first of two remaining regular-season games for the Fighting Irish. They will close the regular season on Sunday at Louisville. Notre Dame enters the Georgia Tech tied for first place in the ACC standings and still has a chance to garner the No. 1 seed in next week’s ACC Tournament. If the Irish win their final two games and Duke loses to either NC State Thursday night or North Carolina on Sunday (both Duke home games), Notre Dame would claim the No. 1 seed. Virginia Tech is currently one game behind the Irish and Blue Devils. The Hokies are at North Carolina Thursday night and visit Georgia Tech on Sunday.

Notre Dame will honor two players, Dara Mabrey and Lauren Ebo, prior to the Georgia Tech game. Mabrey is in her third season at Notre Dame after playing the first two seasons of her career at Virginia Tech. She hit 301 3-pointers in her career before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 22. Her 301 treys ranked 10th among active Division One players at the time of her injury. Ebo played the first two years of her career at Penn State and then played her last two years at Texas before transferring to Notre Dame to complete her eligibility this season. She is currently averaging 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, which are both career highs. Senior managers Lexi Dukesherer and Maggie Klau will also be recognized before the game.

While Thursday is Notre Dame's final home regular season game, the Irish are still expected to host first and second round NCAA Tournament games next month. The 68 team field and host sites will be announced on March 12.

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2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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