Written by Brandin Clearwaters
Spokane, WA- On Monday night, Notre Dame and Oregon will take to the court to battle it out for that one shining moment to move on to the Final Four. Notre Dame is coming off a 90-84 win on Saturday over Texas A&M. A game where the final score of 90-84 was the highest scoring Regional Semifinals game of the tournament thus far. The comeback in Saturday's game was the second-largest comeback victory this year for the Fighting Irish, overcoming a thirteen-point deficit. The Fighting Irish were down thirteen points with 6:37 remaining before halftime of Saturday's game. Monday will be the second consecutive year the Fighting Irish will appear in the Regional Finals. For the Ducks, they're coming off an impressive win on Saturday over Central Michigan. This game saw Sabrina Ionescu notch her seventh points-assist double this year, with sixteen points and ten assists. Ruthy Habard was also significant for the Ducks on Saturday, registering her thirteenth double-double of the year with twenty-three points and fourteen rebounds. Monday will also be the second consecutive year the Ducks have appeared in the Regional Finals.
On Sunday both Notre Dame and Oregon coaches and team addressed the media, ahead of Monday's Spokane Regional Championship game.
Ducks Head Coach Kelly Graves said when asked if the historical contrast between Notre Dame and Oregon, with the Fighting Irish making their ninth trip to the Elite Eight and the Ducks only second trip had any impact on him or the team, "Not really, as far as they're concerned. I mean, this is the first time they've met Notre Dame, or we've met Notre Dame in an Elite Eight. I don't think that they pay much attention to what's happened in the past." Graves went on to say "I think Sabrina said it pretty well. She knows this is one of the storied programs in our game. However, all that doesn't matter tomorrow. It's forty -minutes between the Ducks and the Irish tomorrow."
Forward Ruthy Hebard for the Ducks said when asked about facing the Fighting Irish, " They have so many big and strong posts down low. We are just going to have to play as a team tomorrow and play team defense and get the win." When asked about having so many players that can lead the Ducks, Hebard said, "It's great. Any given day I can step up. We have great players, and we have great guards that can pass us the ball. We know if we get in trouble we can pass it out and get some threes, so it's just great to have a good complete team."
Notre Dame head coach Muffet Mcgraw when asked about what's it's been like getting ready for the Ducks is such a short period said, "Very difficult to get ready in a short period. Thank Sabrina is just a phenomenal player, just phenomenal. She is so difficult to guard. I've never seen a player, especially so young, already get the record for triple-doubles, but the assists are what's so impressive to me. I've had some pretty good point guards, but to look at the number of assists she has, really, it's a challenge to figure out how to defend them. Sabrina can just pick you apart. I mean, she's just so smart and crafty with the ball. It's fun watching when you're not on the other bench."
Fighting Irish guard Marina Mabrey said when asked about containing Oregon’s shooters, “We have to close out on shooters, make them put it on the ground, know where they are in transition, taking them out of their comfort. We’re doing the same thing we always do.”
The Ducks and Fighting Irish will take to the court Monday in the Spokane regional championship game at 6 pm PST 9 pm EST on ESPN.
On Sunday both Notre Dame and Oregon coaches and team addressed the media, ahead of Monday's Spokane Regional Championship game.
Ducks Head Coach Kelly Graves said when asked if the historical contrast between Notre Dame and Oregon, with the Fighting Irish making their ninth trip to the Elite Eight and the Ducks only second trip had any impact on him or the team, "Not really, as far as they're concerned. I mean, this is the first time they've met Notre Dame, or we've met Notre Dame in an Elite Eight. I don't think that they pay much attention to what's happened in the past." Graves went on to say "I think Sabrina said it pretty well. She knows this is one of the storied programs in our game. However, all that doesn't matter tomorrow. It's forty -minutes between the Ducks and the Irish tomorrow."
Forward Ruthy Hebard for the Ducks said when asked about facing the Fighting Irish, " They have so many big and strong posts down low. We are just going to have to play as a team tomorrow and play team defense and get the win." When asked about having so many players that can lead the Ducks, Hebard said, "It's great. Any given day I can step up. We have great players, and we have great guards that can pass us the ball. We know if we get in trouble we can pass it out and get some threes, so it's just great to have a good complete team."
Notre Dame head coach Muffet Mcgraw when asked about what's it's been like getting ready for the Ducks is such a short period said, "Very difficult to get ready in a short period. Thank Sabrina is just a phenomenal player, just phenomenal. She is so difficult to guard. I've never seen a player, especially so young, already get the record for triple-doubles, but the assists are what's so impressive to me. I've had some pretty good point guards, but to look at the number of assists she has, really, it's a challenge to figure out how to defend them. Sabrina can just pick you apart. I mean, she's just so smart and crafty with the ball. It's fun watching when you're not on the other bench."
Fighting Irish guard Marina Mabrey said when asked about containing Oregon’s shooters, “We have to close out on shooters, make them put it on the ground, know where they are in transition, taking them out of their comfort. We’re doing the same thing we always do.”
The Ducks and Fighting Irish will take to the court Monday in the Spokane regional championship game at 6 pm PST 9 pm EST on ESPN.