It may only be the second exhibition game of the preseason for the Notre Dame womens basketball team, but coach Muffet McGraw is already concerned about injuries.

Sophomores Kelsey Wicks and Katy Flecky, along with junior guard La'Tania Severe are banged up as the Irish head into their matchup against the Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine All-Stars Tuesday night at the Joyce Center.

"They're talented. It's really just a chance to play against women, the guys have been killing us," McGraw said. "It's just a chance to run our offense against [a women's team] and see what we can do ... it's more for us, really."

Notre Dame may not play all of their players, although McGraw said every one will dress. Wicks has a foot sprain while Flecky is just all-around banged up. Severe has a sore wrist but is expected to start along side Alicia Ratay, Flecky, Jacqueline Batteast and Teresa Borton. If Flecky can't go, McGraw said one of the two freshman, Courtney LaVere or Meghan Duffy will get the start.

I don't know if I'd go with Megan or Courtney, but definitely one of the freshmen," McGraw said. "It would depend on the match-ups."

It's been two weeks since Notre Dame last played and McGraw wants her team treat the game as if it were the regular season.

"What we've been working on lately is better execution," McGraw said. `I think we want to look sharp. We want to look like we're ready for a game. We haven't maybe scrimmaged enough at practice."

McGraw also added that she wanted to see the team improve its all-around game and that they have more plays to run.

"I want to see improvement on both ends," McGraw said. `We have more installed, so it shouldn't be so boring.'

In their last exhibition game, Notre Dame won 87-50 over the Houston Jaguars Nov. 4. The Irish were led by Borton's 20 points and produced offensively despite poor shooting from Ratay. She finished the game with only one point. Batteast added 11 points, seven assists and three blocks.

McGraw isn't sure what the All-Star team will play like because their first two games have been very different. They beat Cleveland State before losing to Xaiver.

"It depends who they bring because they change their roster every night," McGraw said. `That's probably why they get beat because they don't find a rhythm."

McGraw added that playing in exhibition game against a team from the United States is more helpful for the Irish than facing a foe from another country. "It's better than playing a foreign team because their offense is more like the ones we'll see."

After this game, Notre Dame will open their regular season against Cleveland State at home Nov. 26. The Irish then travel to California t face USC Nov. 29.

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