WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Irish ready to top Mountaineers
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
At 8 p.m. on Saturday things were questionable for the Irish. On a court where they have a bad history without their go-to player, the Irish were unsure how they would play against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
However, tonight as the Irish take their home court to face off against the West Virginia Mountaineers, the mood will be more settled.
After winning one game without leading scorer Jackie Batteast, it looks as if an Irish team that was unstable with Batteast early in the season has progressed enough that it can bring home the win even without her.
"I think the rest of the team, everybody's doing a little more," said head coach Muffet McGraw. "... I think they all want to do well."
Batteast, who will be out again on Tuesday due to a partially torn knee ligament, may find it difficult to watch from the sidelines, but she's confident in her teammates' abilities to carry the team.
"They're capable of [stepping up] and now people actually have to," Batteast said, speaking to the press for the first time since her injury. "People did. I'm glad that they showed that they can play."
Freshman Katy Flecky will again be starting in Batteast's usual spot, after having a solid game on Saturday with four rebounds and two buckets. She teamed up with fellow freshman Teresa Borton in a solid offensive and defensive effort and McGraw hopes to see that combination again tonight.
"I really thought [Flecky] played well," McGraw said. "She and Teresa played so well together, they're going to play a lot together."
Freshman Allison Bustamante may also get to see some more playing time in the wake of the Irish injuries. With junior point guard Jeneka Joyce sidelined again because of an Achilles' tendon injury, Bustamante may see some extra time at point guard, a position she started in against Seton Hall two weeks ago.
"Like Coach said, it's a great opportunity for a bunch of people to step up and show what they can do," Bustamante said. "I think we will do that."
With the increased leadership of Alicia Ratay and Ericka Haney, Notre Dame has a solid front to present to West Virginia. Ratay, who was named Big East co-player of the week, scored a season-high 25 points against Rutgers on Saturday, and Haney has scored in the double figures in four games since mid-January.
"I think [Ratay] just wants to win," McGraw said. "She's trying to do it any way she can and she's trying to contribute any way she can ... [Haney's] playing great. Ever since Connecticut, she's shooting well. She's scoring."
The Irish will have to face off against a Mountaineer team that presents several problems for them offensively. West Virginia (14-10, 6-7) can hit shots from the outside and drive inside, which will trouble a Notre Dame transition defense that struggled against Rutgers late.
"They problems they present for us defensively is really quickness on the perimeter ... it's a match-up problem for us," McGraw said. "On the inside I think Brandi Batch is a really big match-up problem for us."
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at the Joyce Center.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, February 19, 2002
