Veterans lead Irish to sole possession of No. 2 in the Big East
By NOAH AMSTADTER
Sports Editor
When Muffet McGraw sat down on the podium following Notre Dame's win against Boston College Sunday, McGraw had a freshman and sophomore on one side, a junior and senior on the other.
While Notre Dame's highly-touted freshman class has carried much of the load for the team all season, Sunday's victory to move into sole possession of second place in the Big East was spearheaded by Notre Dame's veterans.
To McGraw's immediate left was senior Ericka Haney. Haney, the team's lone senior, has seemed lost at times in the transition from last year's national championship team to this year's younger squad. But on Sunday Haney took her place in the starting lineup at small forward and led a defensive effort that shut down one of the top offenses in the country.
Haney is the team's best defender, always assigned to stop the opponent's best offensive player. Sunday, Haney's victim was Golden Eagles' point guard Brianne Stepherson, who came in averaging 11 points and four assists per game, while leading her teammates to the top 3-point percentage in the nation.
Stepherson finished with just four points and two assists while Boston College converted only two of 17 attempts from beyond the arc for a 11.8 percentage.
"I think my role on the team is to go out and be the defensive stopper and get on the boards and things like that," said Haney, who also scored 11 points, one off her season high.
On the far end of the table next to Haney was junior Amanda Barksdale, who set a Notre Dame record for blocked shots with 11 in 30 minutes. Barksdale was such a presence in the lane, she allowed her team to keep the defensive pressure on without committing costly fouls.
"We fouled a lot less because we had so much faith in Mandy coming up with some big blocks at some critical times," McGraw said.
At the other end of the table was the sophomore, Jeneka Joyce. Joyce, who hadn't played since Jan. 21 due to an Achilles heel injury, hit two key 3-pointers, one to bring the Irish within three early after Boston College went out to an 8-2 lead and another to give Notre Dame a 44-33 lead midway through the second half.
"I don't know why my shots are falling after not shooting for a while," Joyce, who wasn't allowed on the court while her leg healed, said with a smile after the game. "I'm so thankful that they were."
And to McGraw's immediate right was freshman forward Jacqueline Batteast, a national Freshman of the Year candidate who led the Irish with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Batteast's athleticism and scoring ability sealed the win, but it was the improved efforts of her elders that made it possible.
"I thought that they really all stepped up and played at a really high level defensively," McGraw said. "Offensively, I thought we played better as a team than we have maybe all year long. I was just really pleased to see the veterans step up and take that leadership role."
For all three veterans whose play stood out Sunday, this season has been an adjustment. Playing alongside Kelley Siemon at forward last year, Haney thrived in her role cleaning up after her teammates. She would be the one with the put-backs and the extra rebounds. She'd also be there to hit an open shot when the defense focused too much on Ruth Riley or Siemon.
This year, playing next the more versatile Batteast, her role became less defined. Haney had to adjust, first to finding a place on offense, then to playing reduced minutes to allow the team's deep bench to contribute.
While Haney had to adjust to a smaller role, Barksdale has moved into a larger one. Last year she would come into the game with one purpose — to block shots. Riley took care of the offense. Barksdale's job was to come in for a few minutes when Riley committed a foul and take her place in the lane.
This year Barksdale starts. She needs to contribute on offense, so she developed an effective jump shot. And she needs to rebound, where she contributed seven boards Sunday.
And Joyce, who was always the first guard off the bench as a freshman last year, has had to rotate in with classmate Le'Tania Severe and freshmen Kelsey Wicks and Allison Bustamante. She has taken a greater role leading from the bench, calling out instructions and using her mind for the game. But when healthy and asked to make a shot, she hits them.
With Sunday's win, the Irish have an easy road to the No. 2 seed in the Big East Tournament. All they need to do is beat St. John's, West Virginia and Villanova at home while stopping Rutgers and Georgetown away. And the talented core can do it. Only after Sunday, they finally have veterans to lead the way.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 11, 2002
