Boston College women’s basketball (7-19, 2-11 Atlantic Coast) will face off against No. 5 Notre Dame (24-2, 12-1) on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles are 1-9 in their last 10 games and desperate for a win. Notre Dame has only lost two games this season and is on a nine-game winning streak, looking to cruise to its 23rd-consecutive NCAA tournament. The contest will serve as BC’s last home game of the season, as well as Senior Day, making the matchup all the more important. The Eagles have had a challenging season, and a win against a top-five team could propel them to a strong finish.
Who is BC playing?
Notre Dame
When is BC playing?
Sunday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m.
Where is BC playing?
Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
How to Watch:
The game will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra and livestreamed on WatchESPN.
By the Numbers:
BC:
1) The Eagles are averaging over 17 turnovers a game and boast a -3.9 turnover margin—the worst in the ACC. Last time out against Louisville, they coughed the ball up 20 times.
2) BC’s primary offensive weapon, Milan Bolden-Morris, is averaging about 13 points per game. Georgia Pineau, the Eagles’ second-leading scorer, is also their leading rebounder and shotblocker, who is averaging seven rebounds per game and has a total of 29 shot blocks this season.
3) BC is only shooting about 40 percent from the floor this season, not to mention that the Eagles are hovering around the 70-percent mark at the charity stripe.
Notre Dame:
1) Notre Dame’s only setbacks this year have been on the road, where it has accumulated both of its losses.
2) Arike Ogunbowale, a junior and Notre Dame’s leading scorer, is averaging 20 points per game and over five rebounds. Jessica Shepard, the team’s leading rebounder, is averaging over eight boards per game and slightly over 15 points per game.
3) The Irish are currently shooting about 50 percent from the floor and 35 percent from outside the arc, as well as a consistent 75 percent from the charity line.
Last Meeting:
Notre Dame beat BC in the teams’ last meeting in January at home, 89-60, right after its last loss at Louisville. The Irish had an explosive 30-point third quarter, which effectively doomed the Eagles. Jessica Shepard recorded a total of 24 points and eight rebounds, making her the player of the game. Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 21-5, and has won its last 11 games against BC.
BC wins if…
It capitalizes on its home-court advantage and benefits from the Irish’s slight vulnerability on the road. The Eagles also need to keep a close eye on the power duo, Ogunbowale and Shepard, who together could accumulate points quickly. If sophomores Georgia Pineau and Emma Guy, two of their leading rebounders, can dominate the boards then they have a shot at keeping pace with the Irish offense.
BC loses if…
It continues to get outworked on the boards, especially by Notre Dame’s top rebounders, who have also had a knack for racking up second-chance points this season. BC will have little to no chance of pulling off the upset if it continues to lose the turnover battle. Aside from inconsistent shooting, ball security and rebounding have been the Eagles’ biggest downfalls this season.
Featured Image by Amelie Trieu / Heights Editor
