Two Hall of Fame head coaches, two nationally ranked teams and two dynamite women’s basketball programs makes for one highly anticipated ACC match-up.
The North Carolina women’s basketball team has now dropped to No. 12 nationally, but is looking to make quite a statement with a hopeful win over seventh-ranked Notre Dame. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Carmichael Arena.
In last game’s win over Georgia Tech, coach Sylvia Hatchell dug deep into her bench to give more of her players significant minutes, and that ability is one thing she says separates her team from many others in the division.
“We had quite a few of them go in and play significant minutes and make major contributions, and that’s one of the strengths of our team,” Coach Hatchell said. “It’s our balance and our depth. The kids know I have confidence in them and I just told them to be ready when called upon because (they) know when there’s times we’ll need (them) out there so to just be ready.”
Both teams hold equal records at 15-2, but the Fighting Irish are 3-1 in the ACC while UNC is at 2-1. Thursday makes Notre Dame’s first ever visit to Chapel Hill, and in Notre Dame’s last away game on January 8, their NCAA record-tying 30-road-game streak was clipped by Miami.
Legendary coach Muffet McGraw’s squad also has some experience with tough contenders. Along side UNC, Notre Dame has also beaten four top-25 teams this season.
Stephanie Mavunga, undoubtedly one of North Carolina’s biggest weapons, is a product of Indiana, and will rejoin a few former teammates in Notre Dame sophomores Taya (TAY-uh) Reimer and Lindsay Allen. But it will be strictly a game of competition for the Tar Heels, because the Fighting Irish are no team to take lightly.
“Our game plan for them is they’ve got some really really great players for their three-point shooters so stopping some of the tendencies they like to do,” Coach Hatchell said. “They’re a very good passing team and a very good shooting team, they’ll jump out there at different times with different defenses – so those are some things that we’ve got to be prepared for as we play a very good team like this.”
The next challenge for Carolina includes back-to-back road games with trips to Clemson on Sunday and NC State next Thursday.
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