Different team, different result
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
HARTFORD, Conn.
In front of more than 16,000 fans at the Hartford Civic Center, the Irish suffered the same fate everyone of the Connecticut Huskies' opponents has suffered this season.
In 40 minutes of play, the undisputed No. 1 team in the country hit hard on offense and even harder on defense and came home with another double digit victory as the Irish fell 80-53.
"They're just outstanding," said Irish head coach Muffet McGraw. "You watch them on tape and you know they're good, and then you see them in person and they're really convincing, really from the defensive pressure and their offensive capabilities."
Despite solid efforts from some young Irish players, the Huskies, who remain the only undefeated team in college basketball (21-0, 7-0), out-shot, out-rebounded, and, ultimately, outran the Irish (10-7, 4-2). Four Connecticut players — Sue Bird, Tamika Williams, Swin Cash and Asjha Jones, hit double digits in scoring while holding Notre Dame's two leading scorers — Alicia Ratay and Jackie Batteast — to less than 10 apiece. And when it came to rebounding, there was no question which team dominated that battle. The Irish had 33 rebounds to the Huskies' 51.
"The defensive pressure was just outstanding," McGraw said. "I mean, people talk about their offense, but I think the thing that really makes them a great team is their defense."
That defense kept the Irish from taking more than one look per possession and made sure those looks didn't result in a score. The 53 points the Irish scored marks their second-lowest number of points scored this season and the 29 percent shooting percentage from the field in the first half fell well below the Notre Dame season average.
After allowing the Irish to stay within two in the first four minutes of the game (4-2), the Huskies allowed only three Irish points in the next eight minutes while they grabbed 18 themselves.
"Our defense definitely won the game for us tonight," Sue Bird said. "I think that was the key factor. We got them down."
"We just really wanted to do a good job to get them out of their game early," Williams said. "Make them do things they're not used to, penetrate, switch directions, get them out of their game. I think we did a good job of it."
The Huskies did a particularly good job shutting down Ratay and Batteast, who have been the leading scorers for the Irish in all but one game this season.
Batteast totaled only six points in 21 minutes of play. The freshman, who was used as the go-to player early in the game, fell under the pressure of the intense Connecticut defense.
"I don't think she started the game very well," McGraw said. "Jackie, I think, felt a little bit of pressure. I mean, we went to her very early. We probably should have let her get into the flow of the game and gone to a more veteran player."
Even the veterans felt the pressure of the aggressive Huskies.
Ratay, who has recently been scoring more than 20 points a game, was held to just nine. Last season, while the Huskies focused on All-American Ruth Riley and point guard Niele Ivey, Ratay worked her way to being one of the best 3-point shooters in the country.
But on Monday, Connecticut could focus its attention on her.
"This year, they're focusing in more on her and you can see the strain that it's taking on her game," freshman Kelsey Wicks said.
While the Connecticut defense was busy keeping Notre Dame out of its game, the Husky offense was all over the court. If Williams or Cash couldn't get a good look inside, Bird was waiting outside to hit a 3.
"They have a lot of different weapons and a lot of different options," Ratay said. "If one's not working they can go to the next one and the next one and the next one and it goes on and on."
The Huskies grabbed 25 points on second looks, scoring on almost every offensive rebound.
The Irish loss margin was 13 points less than the average Husky opponent. Connecticut scored 10 fewer points than their season average of 90 points per contest.
While Ratay and Batteast struggled offensively, Wicks had her best game of the season, scoring a team-high 16 points, seven more than her previous career-high of nine. While all six freshman faced the biggest crowd and most talented team they've seen, Wicks was able to lead her team in scoring.
"I think a freshman coming into this environment and you don't know how they're going to react, "McGraw said. "Kelsey really stepped up."
On the defensive end, Le'Tania Severe and Amanda Barksdale both had solid games for the Irish, and Batteast picked up where her offense left off. Severe grabbed four steals during the game while Batteast added three blocks to Barksdale's six.
With those positives playing in the backs of their minds, the Irish can see themselves being contenders the next time the teams face off.
"We'll be back, " Wicks said. "We'll play them again and I think that we'll be a much better battle the next time."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, January 22, 2002
