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Miami Herald
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Birmingham Region 3: Texas, Tennessee primed for rematch of SEC bout
The first-ever Southeastern Conference matchup between new league counterparts Tennessee and Texas went down to the wire. The two will meet again on Saturday in Birmingham Region 3, in the first NCAA Tournament pairing of the programs. No. 1 seed Texas (33-3) held off fifth-seeded Tennessee 80-76 when the two met during SEC play on Jan. 23. The Longhorns scored the last four points of a back-and-forth final period. "They have height. They're really athletic, and they get to the boards quite a bit," Texas forward Taylor Jones said was her key takeaway from the first meeting with the Lady Vols. "Making sure that we block them out and doing our job, getting to the rebounds, for the posts especially (will be key. "For the guards and all of us as a whole," Jones added, "breaking their press. They have a 40-minute in-your-face defense." Tennessee (24-9) uses its full-court pressure defense to generate 22.4 turnovers per game. The Lady Vols feed their Division I-best 87.5-point per game offense with a whopping 29 points off turnovers per game. When they last met, Texas committed only 12 turnovers that Tennessee converted into 12 points. "Possessions are going to be very important in this game," Lady Vols guard Jewel Spear said. So will rebounding, she added, against a Longhorns bunch that averages 40 boards per game. No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Notre Dame On Saturday, No. 2 seed TCU strives to continue a historic season for the program against a nine-time Final Four participant, third-seeded Notre Dame. Saturday's Sweet 16 game marks the first time TCU (33-3) has played this deep into the NCAA Tournament. The Horned Frogs advanced with lopsided wins over Fairleigh Dickinson (73-51) and Louisville (85-70) in the first two rounds. The Sweet 16 may be new for TCU as a program, but not for Hailey Van Lith, who had a 16-point, 10-assist double-double against her former Louisville team. Van Lith reached the Final Four with Louisville in 2022 and the Elite Eight last season at LSU. Van Lith and Sedona Prince lead the Horned Frogs with 17.7 and 17.5 points per game. Prince is also a transfer, coming from Oregon two years ago. "Our careers have kind of been revived in a sense," Prince said. "Go somewhere where you are happy, where you are loved, where you are seen, where you know you can grow in your game and be in an environment where you are ... given confidence." The new-look lineup clicked early, including in a 76-68 win over Notre Dame at the Cayman Islands Classic in November. Van Lith scored 21 points and Prince had 20 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocked shots in that matchup. Hannah Hidalgo had 27 points and nine rebounds in the loss, a performance consistent with her 24.1-point per game average for the season. She is the top scorer remaining in the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish (28-5) lost a 14-point lead in that game, providing some fuel for Saturday's rematch. "It was tough to watch, but it's definitely a learning experience," Hidalgo said of revisiting the game film. "Film (session) is to learn and to see where you can improve and get better. So it definitely helps to see those tough moments because we're able to get back in the lab and kind of work on where we went wrong and make sure we correct those mistakes." Notre Dame blew past Stephen F. Austin (106-54) and Michigan (76-55) to advance to the second week of the tournament. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How Notre Dame women's basketball tried to handle 6-7 Sedona Prince in NCAA Tournament
How Notre Dame women's basketball tried to handle 6-7 Sedona Prince in NCAA Tournament Show Caption Hide Caption What Birmingham Regional NCAA tournament players know about Alabama What do NCAA Women's Tournament basketball players at Birmingham Regional know about state of Alabama? Not much. That's what we found out. USA TODAY Sports Network BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – When Notre Dame and TCU faced each other in November, Horned Frogs 6-foot-7 center Sedona Prince tallied 20 points and 20 rebounds, which was the first performance of its kind for TCU since 2005. The Fighting Irish were without starting forward Maddy Westbeld due to a foot surgery she underwent in August. Freshman Kate Koval started while Westbeld healed. Westbeld returned for Notre Dame in January and, despite Saturday's 71-62 loss in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena, she was able to shut down Prince's rebound game, with the graduate student only notching six rebounds in the rematch. 'She's a great (post) player, so I had to be as physical as possible,' Westbeld said. 'I really tried to make her work for everything.' Prince scored 21 points to with four assists. Whether it was Westbeld or Liza Karlen, who was also out with an injury in the Cayman Islands Classic, the Notre Dame defense learned from the game and made sure that it did not allow a repeat of what happened last time the teams played. The Irish especially focused on guarding Prince in practices for this time around. 'Our development coach brought in two guys that were 6-foot-7 for us to play against,' Karlen said. 'But she has so much skill, so it's really hard to replicate that.' Coach Niele Ivey knew that she had to make adjustments. Lucky for her, the adjustment was the health status of Westbeld and Karlen. 'I had more size this time,' Ivey said. 'We wanted to limit her touches, but they did a good job of getting her the ball.' Westbeld and Prince saw foul trouble, with both being taken out late in the third quarter. The players returned in the beginning of the fourth quarter, but Westbeld quickly found her way off the court 31 seconds in. Despite hearing that it was her fourth foul over the speaker, she doesn't let the thought of fouling out enter her mind. 'When people are saying that you're in foul trouble, you get in a space where it's tough to stay present,' the senior said. 'I try to play it as aggressive and as clean as possible.' This loss marks the fourth straight Sweet 16 exit for the Fighting Irish, while TCU will continue its quest for a national title Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
Chicago Tribune
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Notre Dame embraces ‘really hostile' preparation for Sweet 16 rematch with TCU: ‘Now it's all or nothing'
Niele Ivey knows her team. So when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish ended their regular season on a low note, the head coach knew her team didn't need reassurance or encouragement. None of that. They needed to get angry. The Irish have spent the last three weeks honing their fury into a sharp edge. They resent their loss on Senior Night and the early exit from the ACC Tournament. They hate the No. 3 seed. And most importantly, the Irish despise the way they've let themselves play: sluggish, timid, unimposing. Ahead of a rematch against the No. 2 seed TCU Horned Frogs in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, Notre Dame started the week with a lengthy rewatch of the last time the two teams played: a November loss in the Cayman Islands Classic tournament. Senior star Olivia Miles seethed through the entire film session. 'I was just cringing,' Miles said. 'I was like, 'I can't even watch this.' It was difficult to watch. … (Ivey) showed it to us to ignite something in us, to make us mad, to see how we were playing and how we've been playing recently.' That loss to TCU was one of the best things that happened to Notre Dame. The 76-68 result marked the first of two early-season losses in the Cayman Islands that sparked a pivotal change. After losing 78-67 to Utah the following day, the Irish returned to South Bend with a chip on their shoulder — and a taste of what it would take to compete in the top echelon this season. Notre Dame responded to the challenge. They won their next 19 games, including definitive victories over ranked opponents like Texas, Connecticut, North Carolina and USC. So when the Irish floundered through two losses in the final week of the regular season, then bounced out of the ACC Tournament with a semifinal loss to Duke, Ivey knew what to ask of her team: respond. Take it personal. Get mad. Then get right. The end of the ACC Tournament coincided with Notre Dame's spring break, offering the team a few days off. But when players returned to South Bend, Ivey subjected her team to a brutal stretch of training designed to shake them out of their funk. Miles and fellow senior Sonia Citron gave a blunt summation of those practice sessions: 'Really hostile. Really intense.' It was necessary. The Irish needed to find themselves again. The defense had grown sluggish. Players failed to pursue rebounds and lost themselves ball-watching from the perimeter. Sophomore star Hannah Hidalgo often had buoyed the offense in the early months. But in the closing weeks, the offense became over reliant on Hidalgo's frenetic scoring — and unwieldy on her rare off nights. By the time the Irish kicked off the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Citron and other seniors felt confident they had squashed this lesser version of their team. 'We've just got back to being us,' Citron said. 'We're back to being confident. We've gotten more in our rhythm and our flow.' It was evident on the court. Five different players scored in double digits in the first-round win over Stephen F. Austin. A smothering defense forced Michigan into 16 turnovers in the second round. And despite limitations for Miles — who suffered an ankle injury in the first round — Citron and Hidalgo never wavered as the engine of the offense. This shift sparked pride in Ivey, who praised the 'inspired basketball' that elevated the Irish to blowout victories in the first two rounds. Despite dropping to a No. 3 seed, the Irish are carrying the swaggering intensity of contenders into Birmingham, Ala., for the Sweet 16. 'I thought they were relentless,' Ivey said. 'I thought they were focused and locked in. You could tell there was a big carry-over. I challenged them. They had a great response to that challenge. Now, stakes are high. They're just playing at a high level and playing for each other. Defensively, they've really taken on a different identity. I'm really proud of that.' The Irish hope to carry that same energy into Saturday's matchup with TCU, a No. 2 seed headlined by savvy playmaker Hailey Van Lith. Van Lith is a focal piece for any scouting report against the Horned Frogs. But for the Irish, there is one clear roadblock on their way to the Elite Eight: TCU center Sedona Prince. The Irish don't have a clear-cut answer for Prince. The 6-foot-7 center racked up 20 points and 20 rebounds in their first meeting of the season, dominating the paint with eight blocks. In November, Notre Dame severely lacked frontcourt personnel. Senior center Maddy Westbeld missed the game with a left foot injury. And the matchup was only the fifth collegiate game of freshman center Kate Koval's career, offering her a bruising introduction to playing post against an elite NCAA opponent. With Westbeld returned and Koval more experienced, the Irish will be better equipped to handle this physical challenge. But with Prince guarding the paint, Notre Dame's ability to move the ball and manipulate the 3-point line will be more important than ever. The Irish will also be aided by the full return of Miles, who managed only eight points while playing through an ankle injury in the second-round win. Miles rested for several days after Sunday's win. When she returned to practice Thursday, Miles felt fully recovered — a crucial improvement for the Irish to keep rolling in the tournament. 'It makes all the difference,' Citron said. 'Obviously, (Miles) is an amazing player. She's a playmaker. Not only does she score, but I think her biggest game is in getting shots for her teammates, assisting her teammates. We miss that when she's not on the floor. She runs our offense. She's the head of the snake.' The Irish know their goals lie beyond Saturday's game — and beyond Birmingham. For now, the key is taking the tournament one step at a time. First, the Horned Frogs. Then, a potential Elite Eight matchup against Tennessee or Texas. And finally, the light at the end of the tunnel: a chance to avenge themselves in the Final Four. It all rests on this team's ability to stay angry. 'We don't like to lose,' Hidalgo said. 'We hate the feeling. Now it's all or nothing. It's really important that we do all the little things now to take us to that next step.'
Axios
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Axios
2025 NCAA Tournament: What to know about Purdue and Notre Dame's next games
The Purdue men's and Notre Dame women's basketball teams are preparing to take the court in Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament matches. Why it matters: The two programs are the last hope for our basketball-obsessed state to claim the ultimate March Madness glory in 2025. The moment hits even closer to home for the Boilermakers, who will play their next game at Lucas Oil Stadium for the closest thing they'll get to a homecourt advantage. Driving the news: To escape the Sweet 16, Purdue must rewrite its history against No. 1 seeds and survive a Houston team that has one of the best defenses in the country. Notre Dame is walking into their Saturday showdown against TCU in Alabama as the slight favorite and with a score to settle from earlier in the season. Fun fact: It's familiar territory for both squads. This is the second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance for the Purdue men and the fourth straight appearance for the Notre Dame women. Here's a closer look at both matches. 🚂 No. 4 Purdue (24-11) vs. No. 1 Houston (32-4) Tip-off: 10:09pm Friday State of play: With 15 consecutive wins, the Cougars are red hot. But Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn is a difference maker who leads the country in field goals made — just like Zach Edey did last season. Fun fact: Purdue has an 8-3 overall record in Indianapolis since 2021, including two wins in last year's NCAA Tournament. What they're saying: Purdue coach Matt Painter said the success fans are seeing on the court now is the result of work that started last summer. "It's just (about) trying to create that identity on both ends of the court, and having a foundation," Painter said after Purdue's win over McNeese. "A lot of people don't realize … your foundation starts when practice actually starts. We wanted to start in June so now we can grow and be at our best at this time of year." How to watch: TBS/TruTV If you go: Tickets start at $150. ☘️ No. 3 Notre Dame (28-5) vs. No. 2 TCU (33-3) Tip-off: 1pm Saturday State of play: Notre Dame has had a dominant tournament run so far and is right at home in the semifinals, but the team has failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16 for the last three years. Meanwhile, this is the first Sweet 16 for TCU. Flashback: These two teams last met on Nov. 29 in the Cayman Islands Classic. TCU came back from a late-game 14-point deficit to topple the Fighting Irish 76-68. What they're saying: "To go back to the Sweet 16, this is so big for the program," Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said after they beat Michigan by 21 points. "We went through a couple weeks of a tough stretch, and the way that they've fought back and got back on track … has been just phenomenal. We're excited to keep dancing."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness 2025: Notre Dame looks to avenge early season loss to TCU in Sweet 16 NCAA tournament matchup
During the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament, Notre Dame's women's basketball team played like it remembered its identity. In wins over Michigan and Stephen F. Austin, the players showed off their speed. They suffocated teams on defense. They hustled for rebounds and loose balls and played like every game could be their last. They truly were the Fighting Irish. 'We're a bunch of fighters, and we respond when we're challenged. Coach Ivey challenged us, and we responded. We got better, and I think we've shown that these past two games,' senior Sonia Citron said after the win over Michigan in South Bend. Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey agreed. She saw her team get knocked down at the end of the season, losing two of its last three regular-season games, and in the ACC tournament semifinals. And she then saw the same group get back up and keep pushing. 'I knew that they were fighters, like they mentioned. I knew that they were resilient. We just went through a tough stretch," Ivey said Sunday. "We did the same stretch back in November. This group wants to win. They are unselfish, and just came across a couple bad performances that we learned from. So I knew that this team was going to respond. It's something that we've done in the past this season, and I'm just happy that it's happening right now." They'll need that fighter mentality as they head to Birmingham to play in the Sweet 16. No. 3 seed Notre Dame will face off on Saturday with No. 2 seed TCU, the Big 12 champion that beat Louisville to earn their spot in the second weekend of the tournament. TCU has overcome its own challenges, including forfeiting games and holding open tryouts for the team just last season. But Hailey Van Lith joined the team as a transfer after four seasons at Louisville, and en route to the Sweet 16, the Horned Frogs went 33-3 and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings. One of those 33 wins was against Notre Dame at the Cayman Islands Classic in November, with TCU winning by eight points. In that game, TCU overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half. Van Lith scored 19 points after the break, and Sedona Prince had 20 points and 20 rebounds. Prince was particularly effective in the paint, as she had eight blocks, and Notre Dame's frontcourt was held to a total of eight points. Van Lith and Prince were the Horned Frogs' top scorers this season, averaging 17.7 and 17.5 points per game, respectively. 'I mean, that win was huge for us, it was a way for us to prove ourselves to the basketball community,' Van Lith said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 'People weren't necessarily doubting us, they were just waiting for us to go do something unexpected, and we pulled that off earlier in the year. They're obviously an incredible team, they have a lot of talented players, but we're very talented as well, so kind of I think it's going to be a great game. It's going to be so good for women's basketball.' As Van Lith alluded to, the ND-TCU matchup will feature a host of players who are well-known to college basketball fans. Citron, Prince, Van Lith, Olivia Miles and Maddy Westbeld are not just seniors, but veterans who have all played deep into previous tournaments and are top WNBA prospects. Citron and Westbeld have played in the Sweet 16 in every season they've been at Notre Dame. Miles' experience on the court has been limited because of injury, but she's been with the Irish through their ups and downs. While this is the TCU women's first Sweet 16 in school history, Prince has played in nine NCAA tournament games, and Van Lith went to the Final Four with Louisville in 2022, in addition to two Elite Eights. With that much experience on both sides of the floor, Notre Dame will need to key in on the chemistry and fight that helped the Irish bounce back from the loss to TCU early in the season, and their losses just a few weeks before the NCAA tournament. They will have to focus on the speed and shooting that ranks Notre Dame third in the NCAA in field goal percentage, and fourth in scoring offense. They have to be the team they know they can be: fighters. 'I think we have the fight because we want to win,' Hidalgo said. 'We are competitors and we want to win and we want to get all the way to the national championship, and that's really where our fight comes from.'
