Monday night was a crazy night for the for the Fightin’ Irish. A trip to the Final Four against UConn on Friday night was on the line. In order to get there, the Fightin’ Irish had to play the Stanford Cardinal. Prior to Monday nights game, Stanford had eliminated ND two out of the last three years. Coming off a tight game on Saturday against Aggies, the Irish will need to dig deep and show the Cardinal why they are the defending national champion.

Photo Courtesy of Cindy Hamill

@ndwbb is about to throw down against the Stanford Cardinal. 👆year after claiming their ✌️National Championship for Notre Dame. #GoIrish #BeatCardinal 🍀🏀⚡️ — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

First Quarter

The first quarter started like you thought it would Arike Ogunbowale for a three pointer. But the first quarter was far from normal for either team. Both teams were struggling offensively. As a matter of fact the Irish were a mere 1-8 at the 6:14 mark in the first quarter. The good part was that Stanford was 2-8 in the same time span. Both teams appeared to be forcing the ball with the turnovers and heldball turnovers. The lead changed hands six times in the first ten minutes of the quarter.

Current Score: STD 8, NDU 7 – 03:03 (PRD 1)Media Time Out ND is 3-15 20% and Stanford is 26.7% 4-15. Coach will settle them down. Quality shots are not falling. Need to refocus and Irish On ☘🏀⚡ — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019 Stats Don’t Lie

If you were looking for a shiny moment in the first quarter it came at 1:47 remaining in the the first quarter. Ogunbowale, Turner, Young, Shepard, and Mabrey eclipsed the 10,000 points score milestone. the points came off of Turner’s two pointer.

Current Score: STD 11, NDU 9 – 01:25 (PRD 1)Congratulations Mabrey, Turner, Shepard, Turner, Ogunbowale for eclipsing 10,000 points — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

The Irish had a season low 4-20, 20% shooting from the field, while Stanford managed to work out a 6-20, or 30% shooting from the field in the first quarter. Remember this “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” The Cardinal goes on to win the first quarter 13-11. A press of the reset button was definitely needed by the Irish.

Current Score: STD 13, NDU 11 – 00:00 (PRD 1)Well that was interesting. Time to press the reset button. Stanford wins the first quarter. Turner leads all Irish scorers with 4 points, Shepard 5 rebounds Turner has 2 assists Time turn the FIGHT in the Fightin' Irish on ☘🏀⚡ — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

Second Quarter

Abby Prohaska started the Irish off in the second quarter with the first to points to bring the Irish within 1 point. Again, the luck of the Irish was shining down on Wintrust Arena. Though the Irish were struggling, Stanford was having their offensive woes again as well. The Irish took a brief one point lead at the 6:57 mark powered by Jackie Young. That would be the only lead for the Irish in the second quarter.

Current Score: STD 28, NDU 24 – 02:42 (PRD 2)Media Time Out…Nice play by Mabrey to Turner for 2 points. Locker room talk will be interesting. ND shooting up to 28.6% overall. Need to get back and set the tempo. — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

The “paint” that is typically the Irish’s best friend became a foe in the first half. Nothing was falling from inside and nothing was falling from the outside either. It was watching Space Jam when all the players talent was stolen. The Irish were in a hole and they needed to get to the locker room to make the necessary adjustments. Stanford for the quarter shot 8-14 from the field for 57.1% (41% overall for the half). Free throws were a different story. 3-6 for Stanford. Every point counts in a close game.

The Irish though being down were doing what they could with the clock not running. They went 4-4 from the free throw line and 6-19 or 31.6% from the field (25.6% overall for the first half). If there is one thing that Coach McGraw can do, get more out of here team. Stanford outscore the Irish 20-15 and the overall lead is 33-26.

Current Score: STD 33, NDU 26 – 00:00 (PRD 2)RELAX Coach McGraw and this team have been down worse than this.The adjustments will be made at halftime. Arike 8 points,Shepard 7 rebounds,Young 2 assists.The paint hasn't been there friend in the first half #OurLadyOfVictoryPrayForUs — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

Third Quarter

For those that need a quick refresher. ND was down 41-37 to UConn in the semifinal round last year. How did that turn out? The winds of change were starting to blow in the Fightin’ Irish favor. The change was slow but with time on the clock, you need to let the game come to you. Patience is the key in situations like this. Slowly the Irish chipped away at the the Cardinal lead. A layup and a foul to Shepard took three points out of the Cardinal lead. Then a layup by Young and Shepard took four points out of the lead. A layup by turner cut the lead to one, at 2:33 in the third quarter.

Current Score: STD 42, NDU 39 – 03:33 (PRD 3)Media Time Out Irish had a 6-0 run before the last Cardinal basket. Paint points continue to elude the Irish. Remember it's not how you start, its how you finish. The Irish are 54.5% this quarter. Patience!!! — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019 Change Is Coming

At 2:05 remaining in the third quarter the come back was complete. A Young jumper on the fast break put the Irish to the lead. The Irish never looked back from that point. Young was doing it on her own offensively and defensively. Not being denied on the glass on the defensive side and not being denied the points on the offensive side. The Irish outscore the Cardinal 26-13 in the quarter. They shot 70.6% or 12-17 from the field. Young tallied four defensive rebounds and nine points in the third quarter. Now the Irish need to close the game out.

Current Score: STD 46, NDU 52 – 00:00 (PRD 3)THE FIGHTIN' IRISH came out. Jackie Young 15 points 6 rebounds, Shepard 11 points, 10 rebounds Turner and Ogunbowale 10 points a piece. Finish STONG Irish Irish Win the 3rd quarter ☘🏀⚡ — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

Fourth Quarter

The Irish are ten minutes from going back to the Final Four. First they need to close out Stanford. At 7:41 the Irish were on a 26-8 run that had started in the third quarter. When the Irish find the throttle, it goes wide open in a hurry. It was time for the Young and Ogunbowale show to close out the final act.

Current Score: STD 56, NDU 66 – 04:37 (PRD 4)Media Time Out Hows That For A Run. At 7:48 ND had a combined 3rd/4th quarter run of 26-8. Coach McGraw knows how to get it all out of her team. Jackie Young went from silent to ROAR!!! Young now leads all ND scorers with 21 points☘ — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

Ogunbowale had five baskets in the fourth quarter. Four of those baskets were on the fast break. Young had four baskets along with two made free throws. This team knows how to dig deep and then go to the next level and shut down their opponent. Discipline is one of this teams better traits. Stanford only went to the foul line one time in the fourth quarter. The Irish went 9-9 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. The Irish outscored the Cardinal 32-22 in the final quarter of the Elite 8 round. Irish go “Onward To Victory” over Stanford 84-68.

Current Score: STD 68, NDU 84 – 00:00 (PRD 4)TTTHHHEEEEE IIIIRRRRIIIISSSSHHHH WWWIIINNNN!!Tampa Bay HERE COME THE IRISH!!! ☘🏀⚡ — ShakeDownTheThunderSports 🌩 (@ShakeDownTheThu) April 2, 2019

Photo Courtesy of Bob Mackessy

Players And Their Numbers

Jackie Young 25 Points, 10 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 1 Steal

Arike Ogunbowale 21 Points, 5 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 3 Steals

Jessica Shepard 11 Points, 14 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Blocks, 2 Steals

Marina Mabrey 7 Points, 4 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 1 Steal

Post Game Conferences

Coach Tara Vanderveer

“They made some tough shots, and I think they’ll be a great representative from this bracket at the Final Four.”

“I thought our young players really stepped up to the challenge, and our — kind of our leaders with Alanna and DiJonai and Kiana really had — made some outstanding plays for us to even be ahead at halftime and compete.”

“But I’m really proud of our team. I just want to just congratulate Alanna. She had a great career at Stanford, and we’ll really miss her next year. But I think that with the returners, we can build on a great season and this, playing in this Elite 8. “

Coach Muffet McGraw

” That was unbelievable. First half, could not make a shot. I thought we looked just completely out of sorts, very unlike what we normally look like. I think credit Stanford’s defense. They were hitting the boards hard. They were packing it in. We couldn’t get anything going. And then second half we looked like ourselves again.”

“I thought that Arike was just phenomenal down the stretch. Jackie Young picked up where Arike left off in the third quarter when she got her fouls, but I thought Abby Prohaska gave us such a huge lift. That momentum really helped turn the game around.”

Anything we do, we do it together.



Hey, Tampa — here come the Irish. ☘️#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/MnvZ1ZybLW — Notre Dame WBB (@ndwbb) April 2, 2019

🔴 LOCKER ROOM CAM



We’re headed to the #FinalFour and we’ve got your inside look at our locker room celebration. ⤵️#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/MYodQDCEfQ — Notre Dame WBB (@ndwbb) April 2, 2019

Next Up

Next up for the Fightin’ Irish are the UConn Huskies in a rematch of last years semifinal. UConn is going to want revenge and ND is wanting a repeat. Only the strong will survive. The Irish will play Friday Night at a time to be determined.

Cheers and Go Irish! ☘🏀⚡

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