Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame – Women’s College Basketball Game Recap – March 19, 2023 | ESPN

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — — Lauren Ebo had 10 factors, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks to assist No. 3 seed Notre Dame beat Eleventh-seed Mississippi State 53-48 within the second spherical of the NCAA Event on Sunday.

“Preserving them off the boards was essential for us and rebounding is one thing we actually struggled with previously month or so,” Ebo mentioned. “I needed to go on the market and assist us get to the Candy Sixteen.”

Maddy Westbeld added 9 factors and 15 rebounds for the Irish, who blew an eight-point lead within the fourth quarter earlier than making the performs down the stretch for the win.

Mississippi State scored eight straight factors to open the fourth quarter and tie the sport at 41. Ebo scored the primary Irish basket of the ultimate interval on an offensive putback with 4:38 remaining.

“The group erupted,” Irish coach Niele Ivey mentioned. “We actually wanted a basket to settle us in.”

The Irish regained the lead for good on a pair of KK Bransford free throws with 3:49 left within the recreation, which gave Notre Dame a 45-43 benefit. The Irish held onto the lead the remainder of the way in which.

Ebo additionally did it on the defensive finish, holding the Bulldogs’ main scorer Jessika Carter to 5 factors on 2 for 11 capturing. The Notre Dame publish participant set the varsity document within the NCAA Event together with her rebounding effort. She broke Katryna Gaither’s mark of 16 set in 1997.

“(Ebo) knew that Mississippi State’s offense went via Carter, and that was one thing we have been centered on,” Ivey mentioned. “We needed to get the stops, defend the paint together with her and we needed to set up our inside recreation.”

A mess of Mississippi State guards agitated Notre Dame’s main scorer Sonia Citron, who was regularly picked up full courtroom. She scored 14 factors.

Citron, Bransford and Jenna Brown shared ballhandling tasks with second-team Related Press All-American level guard Olivia Miles out the rest of the season with an undisclosed knee damage.

The trio mixed for 4 assists with 9 turnovers.

“I knew they have been going to strain us rather a lot, and we labored on all of it week,” Ivey mentioned. “I believe typically you’ve simply obtained to study within the second.”

Kourtney Weber led Mississippi State (22-11) with 14 factors, 10 of which got here within the fourth quarter.

Notre Dame (27-5) awaits the winner of the second-round matchup on Sunday night between No. 2 Maryland and No. 7 Arizona.

“I’m so grateful to say that I get to guide this group,” Ivey mentioned. “To be again dancing within the Candy Sixteen is a dream come true, particularly with all the pieces we’re going via.”

OVERCOMING SHOOTING WOES

Notre Dame and Mississippi State shot a mixed 31.8% from the sector, together with a 3-of-27 capturing efficiency from past the arc.

Weber did not hit the sport’s first 3-pointer till early within the fourth quarter. The Irish failed to attach from deep.

Each groups additionally shot poorly from the charity stripe, hitting 59.6% on 47 makes an attempt.

Nonetheless, Notre Dame linked on 8 of 10 free throws within the fourth quarter, together with 4 makes from Citron within the remaining 13 seconds.

“Huge-time gamers step up in these moments,” Ivey mentioned. “It’s a psychological factor, and people sealed the sport.”

BIG PICTURE

Mississippi State: Wins two video games in this system’s first NCAA Event look because the Bulldogs reached the regional remaining as a No. 1 seed in 2018-19. This system misplaced within the nationwide remaining within the two seasons prior.

“What we did was so particular,” first-year Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell mentioned. “You’ve got a program that lots of people across the nation mentioned, ‘it’s accomplished; it had its glory years.’ However these younger ladies have been an absolute pleasure to educate.”

Notre Dame: Gained the ACC common season crown and returns to the Candy Sixteen for the second 12 months in a row and the nineteenth time in program historical past.

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