McGraw records 400th career victory as Irish head coach
By TIM CASEY
Assistant Sports Editor
A large contingent of teenage and pre-teen girls, all season ticket holders, situated between sections 9 and 11 at the Joyce Center, normally chant "The Ruth, the Ruth, the Ruth is on fire" at least 10 times per game.
Last night in Notre Dame's 81-43 win against Miami, the group added another cheer to their growing repertoire. With 4:12 left and the Irish ahead by 35 points, the girls screamed, "We want Swanson, we want Swanson."
As in seldom-used sophomore walk-on guard Karen Swanson. Seconds later, coach Muffet McGraw looked down the bench, pointed at Swanson and signaled her to enter.
"That was coincidental," said McGraw, with a smile, "that I put her in at that exact moment."
McGraw could manage to be sarcastic after an 81-43 win over Miami, which was also her 400th career victory. Following the contest, athletic director Kevin White and her husband Matt presented McGraw with a brown and white basketball and a bouquet of flowers.
"It doesn't feel any different," McGraw said of her 400th win. "It's just a chance to look back and remember all the great people that have been in this program. I'm so happy to be where I am right now."
She should be.
Three nights after the loss to Rutgers, the Irish rebounded with their usual domination of a second-tier Big East squad. All 12 players scored and the reserves, who failed to score against the Scarlet Knights and tallied just 20 in the previous four games, chipped in with 32 points last night.
Swanson's free throw with 1:04 remaining was her first point scored since Jan. 24. And sophomore center Amanda Barksdale, who had made two field goals in the last 11 games, matched that total and scored 4 points.
"We're really proud of them to come in the game and not lose the momentum," Ruth Riley said. "We're going to need that going into the stretch we have ahead of us. It's good they got time and played well."
Riley bounced back from a sub-par performance on Saturday to once again lead the Irish. She scored 20 points (on 8-of-11 shooting and 4-of-5 from the line) and grabbed five rebounds.
When she left the game with 11:25 remaining, Riley sat on the bench, a white towel wrapped over the back of her neck, and cheered on her teammates.
The biggest applause, other than when Swanson entered, was reserved for sophomore guard Jeneka Joyce. Joyce, who missed 11 games earlier in the year with an ankle injury, was the second-leading scorer. Eleven of her 13 points came in the second half.
During a one-minute stretch in the second half, Joyce connected on a short jumper, knocked down a 3 from the left corner, intercepted a Miami pass and then came down and threw a bounce pass to forward Ericka Haney for an easy lay-up.
"Being out for seven or eight weeks, you really do get out of synch with playing ball," Joyce said. "But I think I'm starting to be the player that I was before I was injured."
As has been the case for the past few weeks, the Irish struggled at the beginning. They led 19-15 10 minutes into the game and 29-20 with two minutes left in the first half. The Irish missed all seven of their 3-point attempts and turned the ball over 12 times. After abandoning the full-court offense in the past few weeks, Notre Dame attempted to return to a transition game, which caused problems.
"It was a track meet and it was ugly for a couple of minutes," McGraw said. "But I'll definitely tolerate the turnovers."
By midway through the second half, the lead expanded to 55-34 and Miami never got any closer. Sheila James led the Hurricanes with 11 points but shot just 3-of-9 from the field. Miami connected on 16-of-57 from the field and shot 4-of-18 on 3s.
"We did not come here and play to our capabilities," Miami coach Ferne Labati said. "But I really, truly believe that so much had to do with the way Notre Dame played. At this point Notre Dame is a Final Four team."
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, February 21, 2001
