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JODI LO | The Observer JODI LO | The Observer Notre Dame sophomore forward Taya Reimer looks for a pass down low in a 68-52 Irish Irish freshman forward Brianna Turner, guarded by Baylor junior guard Niya Johnson, victory over Louisville on Feb. 23 at Purcell Pavilion. decides her next move during Notre Dame’s 77-68 win over the Lady Bears on Sunday.

By MARY GREEN don’t think you go into the five. They settled on one a week after they had topped along with South Carolina. Assistant Managing Editor season thinking, ‘This is lineup for the season opener then-No. 15 Maryland — both Notre Dame trailed the our national championship and have stuck to it in near- of which join Notre Dame in Blue Demons for most of that At the beginning of the sea- team,’” McGraw said in a ly every game since: Loyd, the Final Four this weekend, matchup in Chicago before son, Irish head coach Muffet teleconference Wednesday. Allen, junior guard Michaela McGraw seemed to slip one Those two first-round picks Mabrey, sophomore forward particular phrase into every in last year’s WNBA Draft, Taya Reimer and freshman one of her press conferences. guard Kayla McBride and for- forward Brianna Turner — “Take some lumps” — that’s ward , aver- with the latter three combin- how she described her expec- aged a combined 32.5 points ing for seven career starts in tations for Notre Dame’s up- and 13.0 rebounds per game a Notre Dame uniform. coming season. in their senior year. With such a young and in- The Irish had advanced to Even more so, they and experienced group, McGraw four straight Final Fours, but classmate Ariel Braker rep- questioned her team’s tough- McGraw wasn’t about to book resented experience in the ness in early contests. her team’s tickets to Tampa, starting five — each played But after a sweep of the Florida, just yet. There were significant minutes for the ACC regular season and too many question marks Irish, with McBride (29.4 tournament titles, the head and unsettled areas. minutes per game) leading coach said her expectations “We’re going to take some the way, followed by Achonwa had been met. lumps early, and we’re going (25.4) and Braker (17.0). “I think they’ve definite- to have a lot of games that The other two starters, ju- ly reached that level and could go either way, and we’ll nior guard Jewell Loyd and then some,” McGraw said see what happens,” McGraw sophomore guard Lindsay last Saturday. “I think we’ve said Nov. 12. “We over- Allen, returned, but Loyd, seen that in a lot of games in achieved last year. This year, a 2014 second-team AP All- the ACC. We saw that in our I really mean it: We’re gonna American, was about the DePaul game up in Chicago, take some lumps early. only surefire thing on the which was shortly after the “I mean, we really are roster. first loss of the season. So I young. We’re so different Allen’s role at point guard think they really showed a lot from last year. We just don’t during her freshman year of resilience, but particularly know what’s gonna happen centered primarily on han- in the posts. late in a game, when adver- dling the ball, dishing it out “I think our guards are sity hits, when we get down, to teammates and keeping pretty tough. They’ve been when we get in foul trouble, her turnovers down. This tough all year long, but I when things start to spiral in year, McGraw said she asked think the post was where we the wrong direction.” Allen to do more to fill in for were questioning it, and they For one, the starting lineup the graduated players. definitely have come along looked a little different than “Coming into the season, and come a long way.” it had the year before, when we talked to Lindsay and McGraw pointed to two the Irish finished the regular told her she’s going to have games in particular that season undefeated and suf- to score a little bit more,” served as the season’s turn- fered their only loss of the McGraw said Wednesday. ing points. The first came year in the national champi- “This year, she’s got to score against DePaul on Dec. 10, onship game. more and be more vocal, and just four days after the Irish “When you lose two first- she’s been able to do that.” had suffered their first defeat WEI LIN | The Observer round draft picks, three start- Irish coaches then had to of the season at the hands of Irish head coach Muffet McGraw observes her team’s offense during ers and a ton of experience, I fill out the rest of the starting then-No. 3 Connecticut and Notre Dame’s win over DePaul in the NCAA tournament March 22. Insider ndsmcobserver.com | thursDAY, april 2, 2015 | The Observer 3

WEI LIN | The Observer SARAH OLSON | The Observer Notre Dame junior guard Michaela Mabrey pulls up just past midcourt in the 79-67 Irish junior guard Jewell Loyd sidesteps a Duke defender during Notre Dame’s 63-50 Irish win over DePaul in the second round of the NCAA tournament on March 22. victory against the Blue Devils on Feb. 16 at Purcell Pavilion. forcing overtime and es- left for the tie and the win. Irish didn’t fall in a second on the season in the other lost so much from last year, caping with the 94-93 victory, The junior scorched the straight game. matchup McGraw called a and we’ve lost really good solidified by two free throws DePaul defense for a career- However, Notre Dame did tipping point. In a 78-63 loss players throughout the years, from Loyd with 5.3 seconds high 41 points to ensure the end up falling a second time to unranked Miami (Fla.) but last year’s experience on Jan. 8, the Irish scrapped and not having any senior Pi a d Advertisement together a lackluster perfor- starters, you know, you just mance on both sides of the didn’t know how the season floor and never seemed to was going to unfold. get in a rhythm against the “We had so many tough Hurricanes. games. I think we played “We played about as poorly the toughest schedule in the as we could possibly play,” country, so we learned a lot McGraw said Wednesday of throughout it. I thought they the Miami loss. “Worst game came into practice every day of the year — shot about 25 ready to learn, but I still felt percent from the field and we were going to take some didn’t defend, and so many lumps at some point, so when things wentwrong in that we kept on winning, it just game. So I think to come really built our confidence.” back from that debacle and Now that her team has ex- win out the rest of the year, I ceeded its early-season ex- think that shows that we did pectations, McGraw said it get a lot tougher.” will keep trying to reach its Since that point, there has goals for one final weekend. been no looking back for the “I think we go into the Irish squad, which is cur- Final Four with an attitude rently riding a 21-game win of, we’re going to do what streak. we do,” she said Wednesday. Notre Dame cruised “We’re going to work hard. through the ACC tourna- We have an attitude that ment, with an average mar- we think we can win. At the gin of victory of nearly 12 end, we have four of the best points, and has looked just teams in the country. We’ve as dominant in the NCAA had some really close games. tournament, in which it has We’ve lost some heartbreak- bested No. 16 seed Montana, ers. We’ve had some success No. 9 seed DePaul, No. 4 in the semifinals. seed Stanford and No. 2 seed “But I don’t think we go Baylor. in thinking we’ve got to win After the win over Baylor this one. We’re just going in on Sunday to advance to a and playing our game.” fifth-straight Final Four, So far, playing their game McGraw said she had never has worked out for the Irish experienced a run quite like — whether that success was this one. expected or not. “We had to work the hard- est to get to this one,” she Contact Mary Green at said Sunday. “I thought we [email protected] 4 The observer | thursDAY, april 2, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com Insider Multiplayer attack fuels Irish offense

By SAMANTHA ZUBA first-team All-America honors 2-to-1 -to- ratio” as S enior Sports Writer from the Associated Press (AP), a first-year point guard,M cGraw United States Basketball Writers said. Her role has expanded this The No. 1 seed Irish have made Association and John R. Wooden season as she was recognized the Final Four for the fifth straight Award. But the Irish (35-2, 15-1 Tuesday with honorable mention year. But Notre Dame looks a little ACC) proved their depth over All-America honors from the AP. different this season. the course of the season — four “She’s looking to score more This team is younger. It has im- players average in double-figure and doing more in transition, proved perhaps more than any of points per game. and she’s been really successful,” the most recent fiveN otre Dame The NCAA tournament has McGraw said. “I think it’s helped teams to make the Final Four, been no exception. our offense tremendously.” Irish head coach Muffet McGraw Loyd scored a team-high 18 The Irish have seen their post said Wednesday during the Final points in Notre Dame’s 77-43 players grow this season and Four coaches teleconference. And first-round win over Montana. contribute to the team’s depth as it is more balanced. But then junior guard Michaela well. Freshman forwards Brianna “We’ve had so many different Mabrey led the way with sharp Turner and Kathryn Westbeld people,” McGraw said. “I think 3-point shooting in the sec- have been productive, Turner that’s also another difference ond round against DePaul. as a starter and Westbeld as one from years past. We relied on our Sophomore guard Lindsay Allen of Notre Dame’s primary bench All‑Americans in years past, and I posted the most points for the players. feel like this year, everybody that’s Irish in their two most recent Turner received recognition in the game can contribute.” wins, over No. 4 seed Stanford Tuesday as an honorable mention Junior guard Jewell Loyd in the Sweet 16 and No. 2 seed All-American along with Allen. JODI LO | The Observer topped many box scores this Baylor in the Elite Eight. “She always wants to know Irish junior guard Jewell Loyd drives past Baylor redshirt sophomore season on her way to averag- Last season, Notre Dame want- what she can do differently guard Alexis Prince in Notre Dame’s 77-68 win in the Elite Eight. ing 19.9 points per game and ed Allen to focus on having “a and how she can attack things

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differently,” McGraw said of averaged double-figure minutes Turner. “She watches a lot of film. this year. I’m so pleased with her progress. So far, it all has added up to She’s really overachieved for us a Final Four berth. Playing as a this year, and we’re excited about team has helped the Irish come her future.” back from some tough spots over Sophomore forward Taya the course of the season, McGraw Reimer has helped the fresh- said. men forwards develop in addi- Notre Dame played from be- tion to improving her own game, hind in the NCAA tournament McGraw said. against both DePaul and Baylor “I think that consistency is but came out as winners. The one of the strengths that she’s Irish also rebounded from their had,” McGraw said. “I think she two regular-season losses to also brings a lot of physical play Connecticut and Miami. around the basket in terms of “It’s been a great group to work both offensively and defensively. with,” McGraw said. “They are I think she’s really smart. She’s just relentless, and they never kind of stepped up as a leader in quit. We’ve been down in a lot of the post as a sophomore, helping games, and they just keep step- Kathryn and Brianna. So she’s ping up.” taken on a little bit of a leadership Notre Dame tips off its Final and mentoring role.” Four matchup against No. 1 Senior guard Madison Cable seed South Carolina at 6:30 has provided the Irish with scrap- p.m. Sunday at Amalie Arena in py minutes off the bench as part Tampa, Florida. of an involved Notre Dame re- EMILY McCONVILLE | The Observer serve corps. Four players other Contact Samantha Zuba at Notre Dame freshman forward Brianna Turner leaps to fire a contested shot over Wake Forest senior than the five regular starters have [email protected] forward during a 92-63 Irish home victory over the Demon Deacons on Feb. 1.

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ERIN RICE | The Observer CONNECTICUT MARYLAND st ou h carolina NOTRE DAME N o. 1 overall seed Connecticut ar- If anything is certain about this year’s S outh Carolina is on the rise, having Going into its fifth Final Four in as many rives in Tampa, Florida, seeking its Final Four, it’s that the Maryland squad made its first Final Four in program history. years, No. 2 Notre Dame is hoping for a dif- third straight NCAA title and head Notre Dame met in December isn’t the same The signs from the 2013-14 season al- ferent NCAA tournament outcome than coach Geno Auriemma’s 10th career Terrapins team that had advanced to the ready pointed up. last year’s 79-58 defeat to Connecticut in championship, and the Huskies are tournament’s final weekend. Last season, the Gamecocks advanced the title game, despite the graduation of heavy favorites to do just that. The Irish earned a dominating 92-72 victo- to the Sweet 16 and finished with a 29-5 standout players Natalie Achonwa and The team leads the NCAA in both ry over Maryland on Dec. 3, which came on overall record and a 14-2 mark in the SEC. Kayla McBride. scoring offense and defense, with a the heels of a Terrapins loss to Washington They lost to North Carolina, 65-58, in the Notre Dame (35-2, 15-1 ACC) hasn’t lost scoring margin (41.9) not far off from State four days before. regional semifinal, but despite the tourna- since Jan. 8 in what head coach Muffet the points it allows per game (48.2). In Since then, however, Maryland has won ment loss, South Carolina had reason to McGraw called a “debacle” at Miami (Fla.). addition, the Huskies top the country in 28 straight games en route to capturing a Big stay positive. Other than that, its only loss was to five other major statistical categories. Ten title and Spokane, Washington, regional A freshman led the Gamecocks in the Connecticut in December, when fresh- Powered by defending AP Player of crown in the NCAA tournament with a 58-48 game against the Tar Heels, as forward man forward and ACC Freshman of the the Year and Naismith Trophy win- win over Tennessee last Monday. It earned a posted a double-double of Year Brianna Turner was unable to play ner junior forward Breanna Stewart, 27-2 record in the regular season, including a 22 points and 11 rebounds. Coates was the due to injury. Turner leads the team in re- the Connecticut lineup features two perfect 18-0 mark in conference play. third-leading scorer last season for South bounds and blocks while also boasting the other All-Americans in senior forward Maryland had relied on three-time ACC Carolina. None of its top five scorers or best field-goal percentage in the NCAA at Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and junior Player of the Year to carry the top five rebounders were seniors, so all re- 65.6 percent. guard Moriah Jefferson and an honor- load on offense and defense for the past four turned for this season. So far in the tourney, Notre Dame has able mention in sophomore forward seasons. The Gamecocks averaged 72.9 points found success by distributing the ball Morgan Tuck. After Thomas’ graduation, the Terrapins per game as a team last season and surren- and keeping the offense balanced. When In the Sweet 16, the Huskies topped are led this year by sophomore guards Lexie dered 55.8 points per game. defenses key on national player of the fifth-seeded Texas, 105-54. It was Brown, a third-team AP All-American, and This season, they have improved on year candidate and junior guard Jewell the largest margin of victory in any Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, an honorable both ends. South Carolina has averaged Loyd, another player steps up her scoring, NCAA regional semifinal game ever. mention AP All-American, along with red- 76.2 points per game in 2014-15 and held whether it’s Turner, junior guard Michaela However, just two days later, they shirt senior guard Laurin Mincy. opponents to 53.8 points per game. Their Mabrey or sophomore guard Lindsay struggled to separate themselves from Mincy’s 13.8 points per game are tops on only losses this season came against No. 1 Allen, as was the case in the regional seventh-seeded Dayton, which entered the team, while Walker-Kimbrough (13.5) Connecticut and No. 11 Kentucky. round. halftime up by one before falling back and Brown (13.4) are close behind to make Freshman guard/forward A’ja Wilson Loyd was a unanimous selection for in the second half. up Maryland’s balanced offensive attack. joined the group of established players the AP All-America team, while Allen and Connecticut’s lone loss this year Sophomore center also aver- and has emerged as the team’s second Turner both received honorable mentions. came against Stanford back in ages 12.3 per game. leading scorer with 12.9 points per game With a backcourt powered by Loyd November. The 88-86 defeat came in Jones leads the Terrapins on the boards off the bench. and Allen and an inside game controlled overtime and on the road. Since then, with 9.0 rebounds per game and has record- Now, with a 34-2 overall record and a by Turner and sophomore forward Taya the Huskies have reeled off 35 straight ed 14 double-doubles this season, three of 15-1 SEC record, they head to the Final Reimer, Notre Dame has the No. 5 offense wins. those coming in the NCAA tournament. Four. in the NCAA, scoring 80.9 points per game.

Greg Hadley Mary Green Samantha Zuba Renee Griffin E ditor-in-Chief Assistant Managing Editor S enior Sports Writer Sports Writer

Four top seeds won all four games each Muffet McGraw said she wanted The No. 2 Irish have come a long way With only No. 1 seeds in the Final Four, to make it to the Final Four. So far, so Lindsay Allen to be more than a facilita- since losing to No. 1 Connecticut, 76-58, there’s no Cinderella story. However, there predictable. tor this year, and Allen’s done just that on Dec. 6. are also no guarantees for the remaining But now is when things get interesting. lately, flashing her shooting touch to lead They didn’t have freshman forward teams. Maryland is the only team left Connecticut the Irish past Stanford and Baylor. and rebounding leader Brianna Turner, Connecticut, Notre Dame, South hasn’t beaten. Notre Dame and South While Jewell Loyd had a strong second- out with a shoulder injury for that game. Carolina and Maryland have all played Carolina were both thrashed by the Huskies, half against the Cardinal, she still has not They didn’t have the cohesion they have well through the regular season and tour- but Connecticut also looked surprisingly performed to her full potential this tour- now. Their freshman didn’t have the ex- nament, but no team is unbeatable. The vulnerable in the Elite Eight against lowly nament, and that should set off alarms perience they have now. Huskies and Gamecocks both had to come Dayton. Then again, the Huskies also won in the South Carolina, Connecticut and The Irish have gotten hot at the right back from halftime deficits in theE lite by epic proportions in the Sweet 16 against Maryland locker rooms. time. They’ve been rolling since the ACC Eight, while the Irish trailed for nearly 19 Texas. An Irish backcourt with Allen in the tournament, which they won with a 71- minutes of their game. The Terrapins had Connecticut’s three-peat is not as secure zone and Loyd playing at her best is, well, 58 statement victory over No. 7 Florida their lowest-scoring first half of the year. as some, including myself, first thought. scary. State. Connecticut and Notre Dame have been Look at what the Flyers did offensively, push- Those two guards always show up to They had to play from behind against here the most, and their consistency will ing the pace to breakneck speeds and mak- play when the stakes are highest, and DePaul and Baylor in the NCAA tourna- carry them into the championship. There, ing every possible shot. If any other team that should be enough for Notre Dame to ment, but they’ve demonstrated their an Irish attack at full strength and Notre can do that and sustain it for two halves, it’s overcome any size disadvantages down ability to stay cool under pressure, all Dame players hungry for their first title the nation’s fifth-best offense:N otre Dame. low. the way to the Final Four. since 2001 will finally dethrone theH uskies.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame defeats PREDICTION: Notre Dame defeats PREDICTION: Notre Dame defeats PREDICTION: Notre Dame defeats Connecticut in the title game. Connecticut in the title game. Connecticut in the title game. Connecticut in the title game. Insider ndsmcobserver.com | thursDAY, april 2, 2015 | The Observer 7

Commentary ND playing under no pressure to Notre Dame, they certain- Greg Hadley ly expected to compete for E ditor-in-Chief championships every year. But the fact that McGraw was The last two Final Fours, willing to ease her demand- Notre Dame had a clear mis- ing standards, even by the sion: win one for the seniors. smallest of margins, meant Win one for Skylar or Kayla her team could play relaxed and Natalie. Top Connecticut and comfortable basketball, for a fourth time or finish not paralyzed with fear of off that undefeated season. ever making a mistake. Don’t go home disappointed That is where the Irish and defeated. Finish the job. stand this weekend. They are No such pressure will ex- experienced enough not to ist in Tampa, Florida, this be overwhelmed by the big year. The Irish are playing stage but young enough to with house money, at least as know this is not their final much as any team reaching shot. But does that mean they its fifth straight Final Four can finally win a national can. Connecticut is such an championship? overwhelming favorite, and Any argument for the Notre Dame is young and Irish winning based on the relatively unexperienced. fact that they are the over- The Huskies have already whelming underdogs with dominated the Irish this nothing to lose can be coun- season. In fact, they’ve just tered by the simple fact that about dominated everyone in Connecticut is the favorite sight. South Carolina had no for a reason, just as there chance. The entire American is a reason youthful teams Athletic Conference (AAC) like Notre Dame are not ex- was swept away. Their first pected to succeed: They typi- three NCAA tournament op- cally don’t. Connecticut has ponents lost by an average of earned the respect of every more than 47 points. fan, coach and player in the Rest assured, Geno game. Auriemma and UConn can But respect does not equate handle the pressure that to fear. And Notre Dame can comes with being a front run- enter this Final Four without ner. They’ve been there and fear. McGraw’s squad does done it, over and over and not need to win to have had over, ad nauseam. a successful season. And, But for an Irish squad still ironically enough, that may struggling to get over the be the reason the Irish could hump and win its first title in win. If they can ignore the more than a decade, the lack weight of recent history and of pressure is a wonderful push past the media ac- thing. It’s a weight off Muffet counts of their epic rivalry McGraw’s shoulders, a free- with the Huskies, if they dom from urgency that could can play freely, they have a make a significant difference. chance. When a team succeeds yet But if they allow them- falls short as many times as selves to get swept up in the Notre Dame has the past four heady excitement of the Final years, there is no questioning Four, if they start thinking both its talent and its motiva- about the historic implica- tion. But with each passing tions an NCAA title would year, as the Irish watch the have, the Irish could just as championship go to someone easily find themselves on the else, it is not unreasonable to losing end of a national semi- ask when the pressure to cap- final against a very danger- ture that elusive title might ous South Carolina team. finally get to them. What Notre Dame is play- But the Irish don’t feel any ing for this year is not as pressure. Not this year. clear as seasons past. It’s a With three new starters to fine balance between using begin the season, McGraw history as motivation and hit the reset button on her simply playing for oneself. expectations. Without a de- It’s a mind game that gets finitive senior leader on the more difficult the longer you court, she said the Irish were think about it. bound to experience more difficulty than they had in a Contact Greg Hadley at long time. For the first season [email protected] since 2010-2011, it was not, The views expressed in this “Championship or bust.” column are those of the author Of course, when Brianna and not necessarily those of The Turner and Taya Reimer came Observer.

Follow us on Instagram. @NDSMCObserver ERIN RICE | The Observer 8 The observer | thursDAY, april 2, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com Insider South Carolina awaits Notre Dame in semifinal

By RENEE GRIFFIN to do. We have to try abso- Sports Writer lutely everything,” McGraw said. “If you saw the begin- N o. 2 Notre Dame faces No. ning of the Baylor game, I 3 South Carolina on Sunday think we played six different at 6:30 p.m. in Tampa, defenses before halftime. So Florida, with the Irish mak- we’re going to throw every- ing their fifth consecutive thing we can at them and see appearance in the Final Four how the matchups look. while the matchup marks the “We are a man-to-man team first semifinal appearance so that is our primary de- for the Gamecocks. fense. Offensively, we’re just Both teams are top seeds, going to run our stuff same as are the other two teams as we do every other game. in the Final Four, No. 1 Defensively is where I think Connecticut and No. 4 we’ll really be challenged.” Maryland. However, their Freshman forward Brianna victories to make it this far Turner has played a crucial did not come easily. role in keeping Notre Dame’s Notre Dame (35-2, 15-1 inside game competitive, ACC) was trailing second- leading the team in blocks seeded Baylor for a consid- and rebounds. She and soph- erable amount of time in omore forward Taya Reimer,

Sunday’s 77-68 Elite Eight who McGraw called “maybe KAT ROBINSON | The Observer win, while South Carolina Irish senior guard Madison Cable tries to cut by Pittsburgh guard Fred Potvin during Notre Dame’s 87-59 (34-2, 15-1 SEC) had to come see S CAROLINA PAGE 9 win over the Panthers on Feb. 26 at Purcell Pavilion. from behind to defeat No. 2 seed Florida State, 80-74. Pi a d Advertisement “This is one of the best tournaments we’ve had in terms of parity,” Irish head coach Muffet McGraw said. “I feel like there were so many great games through- out the tournament, there were great games. The one seeds advanced, but we all had games, maybe three of us had games, where we were in a really good game, in a really good battle.” South Carolina could cause the Irish trouble, McGraw said, due to its size in the post combined with the pres- ence of All-American junior guard Tiffany Mitchell. “They are so strong in the post and their depth – you can’t even think about get- ting them into foul trouble because they just have so many people they can bring in off the bench,” McGraw said. “And then they’ve got Tiffany Mitchell, obvious- ly first-team All-American and one of the best guards in the country. They’ve got good shooters and great team speed. They play really hard defensively, they pressure so well, and again they don’t have to worry about foul trouble.” McGraw said adjusting and adapting the defense to limit the strengths of the Gamecocks’ attack would be key to the Irish strategy. “We’ve got a lot of different ideas of things we want to try

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that helps with the scouting S Carolina report,” McGraw said. “We’ve Cni o t nued from page 8 done a lot of homework on South Carolina, and I think our most consistent player,” then it comes time to step will combat the Gamecocks’ back and look at ourselves.” frontcourt. McGraw said this Final “Brianna … does a lot de- Four feels far different from fensively just with her pres- her first, or even the one five ence inside because of what years ago. The experience she’s able to do,” McGraw Notre Dame has at this level said. “But to match up with could factor into the outcome South Carolina, they’ve got of the game against newcom- a lot more bulk than I think er South Carolina, she said. she does. They’re a little bit “I think it helps to know bigger. I think it’s going to be what to expect, especially interesting. They have a little with all of the things that more experience.” you have to do outside of To reach this point in the your own practice and play- tournament, South Carolina ing the games,” McGraw said. had to go through North “It’s very time consuming Carolina and Florida State in and it’s a little draining men- the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, tally, I think sometimes too. respectively. Notre Dame But when it’s your first one, previously defeated both of you’re so excited to be there those ACC teams this year, and do all of it that it’s ac- with an 89-79 victory over the tually sometimes probably Tar Heels on Jan. 15 and a 71- easier for the first-timers 58 win over Florida State for because everything’s differ- the ACC title. ent, everything’s fun, every- “[South Carolina is] a re- thing’s new.” ally difficult matchup for us. The Final Four show- Obviously we played North down between the Irish and Carolina and Florida State, Gamecocks takes place at two teams that they played, Amalie Arena in Tampa, at so we got a little bit of a look 6:30 p.m. Sunday. at how they match up with teams we’re familiar with, Contact Renee Griffin at but I don’t know how much [email protected]

JODI LO | The Observer Irish sophomore forward Taya Reimer starts her dribble after collecting a during Notre Dame’s 77-68 win over Baylor in the Elite Eight on Sunday in Oklahoma City.

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JODI LO | The Observer ESPN’s LaChina Robinson interviews Irish head coach Muffet McGraw during Notre Dame’s Elite Eight win over Baylor. Pi a d Advertisement Insider ndsmcobserver.com | thursDAY, april 2, 2015 | The Observer 11

JODI LO | The Observer JODI LO | The Observer Irish head coach Muffet McGraw, far left, and Notre Dame’s bench cheer on their teammates during Irish freshman forward Brianna Turner battles for a loose ball with Sunday’s Elite Eight win over Baylor in Oklahoma City. Baylor sophomore forward Nina Davis in the Elite Eight.

JODI LO | The Observer The Irish pose with the regional championship trophy after topping Baylor in the Elite Eight, 77-68, on Sunday. Notre Dame now plays South Carolina in the Final Four this weekend.

JODI LO | The Observer JODI LO | The Observer Irish junior guard Jewell Loyd cuts down the net following Notre Irish senior guard Madison Cable stays in front of Baylor junior guard Niya Johnson during Notre Dame’s Dame’s 77-68 win over Baylor in the Elite Eight. 77-68 win over the Lady Bears in the Elite Eight on Sunday in Oklahoma City. Pi a d Advertisement

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