Irish Defeat Bowling Green In OT Thriller

Mark Allen

Irish Blue And Gold (www.irishblueandgold.com)

ND Women’s Basketball

Notre Dame fought back from an eleven point second half deficit to defeat Bowling Green in overtime, 85-81.  Freshman Ashley Barlow scored six of Notre Dame’s seven overtime points to aid in the victory.  Tulyah Gaines and Charel Allen had career highs in points with 25 and 21, respectively. 

Make no mistake about it – this game was no gimme for the Irish.  Bowling Green is a good team and this game was a marquee one, even though it was only the second game of the season for the Irish.  The Falcons, last season, were an NCAA Tournament participant.  They were 28-3 and won the Mid American Conference.  As a matter of fact, Bowling Green has won the regular season as well as conference tournament for the last two seasons.  They are a favorite to win the MAC again this season.

The Falcons played like a champion from the start.  Behind the shooting of senior forward Carin Horne, they raced to a 13 point lead.  They led at the half by a score of 38-31.

The Irish trailed with about ten minutes to go in the game, 61-50, when junior guard Tulyah Gaines decided to take control.  At times she looked out of control, driving the lane.  But, the results can’t be argued with.  In the last ten minutes of regulation, Gaines scored 13 points.  She had a couple of baskets to go along with 8-of-9 from the line.

Speaking of the end of regulation…this one had a wild finish.  The Irish, trailing for most of the game, had finally caught the Falcons at 73.  Gaines was at the free throw line for her second shot and, if made, an Irish lead.  But, senior forward Crystal Erwin, who played a tenacious game on defense, stepped into the lane too soon to negate the attempt.  It almost came back to haunt Notre Dame.

Notre Dame managed to gain the lead at 78-75 in the final few seconds.  Bowling Green had possession with about fourteen seconds to go.  Most of the night, the Falcons were left alone for three point shot attempts.  As a matter of fact, for the night they were 11-of-23.  Senior forward Liz Honegger found herself alone at the bend in the arc and buried a buzzer-beating trey to knot it up and send it into overtime.

The crowd and Ashley Barlow would not allow the Irish to falter in the extra period.  Although listed at 5, 746 as far as attendance, the crowd looked fuller and was definitely boisterous.  Barlow was boisterous – and feisty.  The freshman had a lot of fight in her on this night.  If she missed her shot, she would not let up until she had it back and was either fouled or scored.  She totaled 19 points for the night. 

Charel Allen’s performance must be noted.  She scored 21 points for a career high.  But, her game on this night was much more than that.  She was the personification of cool.  When the Irish needed a comeback, she hit some clutch shots.  She also was key on a very good press that caused the Falcons problems.

The Irish were very good on the boards, outrebounding Bowling Green, 45-33.  Barlow led the way with 10.

Bowling Green placed all five starters in double figures.  They were led by Kate Achter, who had 20.

Notre Dame is in action at home next on Sunday, November 19.  The game is versus Western Michigan.  The next game is a road game at Penn State on Thursday, November 16.

Irish Blue And Gold Items

*Notre Dame defeated a very good team in Bowling Green.  The Falcons were receiving votes for the Top 25.  Will the Irish move into the Top 25 next week?

*Ashley Barlow has my vote for game mvp.  Although Allen (21) and Gaines (25) scored more, the freshman played like an upperclassman and refused to allow Notre Dame to lose.

*Both Allen and Gaines had career highs in points.  This was Gaines’ best game of her career.

*After the game, as the team was exiting, the players raised their hands and voices to get the crowd into it.  They were led by Crystal Erwin and Erica Williamson.  Too bad the men are led by a coah who discourages a show of emotion.

Box Score

Bowling Green (1-1)

Honegger 4-8 0-0 12, Horne 6-17 2-3 18, Mann 4-7, 6-10 14, Achter 4-10 12-14 20, Thorburn 6-8 0-1 17, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, McCall 0-3 0-0 0, Flynn 1-4 0-0 2, Totals 25-57 20-28 81

Notre Dame (2-0)

Erwin 3-7 1-1 8, D’Amico 1-2 0-0 2, Allen 9-20 0-0 21, Gray 2-8 2-3 6, Gaines 8-15 9-11 25, Barlow 4-11 11-12 19, Williamson 2-3 0-1 4, Lechlitner 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 29-67 23-28 85

Half: Bowling Green 38, Notre Dame 31.  End of Regulation: Tied at 78.  Shooting: Bowling Green 43.9 percent, Notre Dame 43.3 percent.  3-point shooting: Bowling Green 11-23 for 47.8 percent (Thorburn 5-6, Honegger 4-6,  Horne 2-8,  Flynn 0-2, Achter 0-1); Notre Dame 4-14 for 28.6 percent (Allen 3-7, Erwin 1-1, Gray 0-3, Barlow 0-1, Lechlitner 0-1).  Rebounds: Notre Dame 45 (Barlow 10, Erwin 6, Allen 6, Gaines 6); Bowling Green 33 ( Horne 7).  Assists: Bowling Green 18 (Achter 9), Notre Dame 13 (Barlow 4).  Total Fouls: Notre Dame  22, Bowling Green 21.  Attendance: 5, 746.

Mixed emotions

Louie Villalobos
 Blue and Gold
http://www.irishblueandgold.com

Obviously, this was a great game for Notre Dame. They just crushed Air Force, 39-17. The offense was able to score almost at will and the defene got quality run tackling practice. And that’s what bothers me.

Notre Dame will have played Navy, North Carolina and Army by the time the team heads to Los Angeles to face USC. That’s on top of the matches with Michigan State and Stanford.

That’s six teams that are horrible. I’m just worried that we, and the voters, don’t know how good the Irish are at a time of the year when there is a chance to move up the polls.

Auburn lost. Louisville lost. Florida stuggled. And either Tennesse or Arkansas will lose later today. It’s going to be hard for Notre Dame to move up given the teams weak schedule.

Don’t get me wrong. I love watching Notre Dame toss the football around the field. It’s pretty cool to see Brady Quinn ring up big numbers and Charlie Weiss gave entertaining post-game interviews about what the team needs to work on.

But the schedule will have to get tougher of the Irish plan on becoming a national powerhouse again. I can’t wait! Go Irish.

Greed Abounds At CSTV And Notre Dame

Mark Allen

Irish Blue And Gold (www.irishblueandgold.com)

Editorial 

This Saturday, Notre Dame travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado to take on ther Air Force Academy.  For the most part, everyone will say the Air Force Academy has classy people and is a first rate, honorable institution.  Likewise, most of the time the University of Notre Dame is a very classy, honorable institution of higher learning.

On Saturday, for the first time in decades, a Notre Dame football game will not be seen on television.  Well, it is offered by CSTV.  However, CSTV will only be offering the game as a pay-per-view.

On the surface, my initial reaction was anger against CSTV.  Once again, I thought, the media is ripping off Notre Dame every chance they get.  They can’t do it to Notre Dame when games are played in South Bend.  Those games are televised, nationally, on NBC.

Upon further review – and contemplation – I thought, wait a minute.  What is the url (site address to those of us who are almost computer illiterate) of Notre Dame’s official site.  The clue to what is happening might be found in the url.  Notre Dame’s official site address is http://und.cstv.com/.

Say what?!  und.cstv.com?  Is it CSTV ripping off Notre Dame or is Notre Dame going to reap the profits from the pay-per-view broadcast?  There are things I absolutely love about Notre Dame.  Those things far outweigh the negative.  However, when one loves someone or something, it does not mean you don’t love them or it because you criticize them or it.  In this case, criticism seems warranted.

The University of Notre Dame hold up ideals that everyone likes and believes in.  They talk about the spirituality of the place.  But, since when has greed and money been synonymous with spirituality?

I don’t know who is behind all of the cstv fiasco.  But, if it is John Heisler and Kevin White – you ought to be ashamed of yourselves!  There is more to love than love of money.  The irony is that most subway alums understand this.  It is a shame that the Notre Dame administration, most of the time does not!

Irish Balance Key In 85-57 Win

Mark Allen

Irish Blue And Gold (www.irishblueandgold.com)

Luke Zeller scored 15 points and Russell Carter added 14 as Notre Dame defeated Bellarmine, 85-57 on Monday night.   

The Irish were never threatened in this one.  They shot the ball well in all facets.  From the field, Notre Dame shot 49 percent.  They were even better from behind the three-point arc, hitting on 55 percent (10-of-18).  The active Irish also connected on 21-of-3o free throws for 70 percent.

Starter Rob Kurz sat this one out for unknown reasons.  But, word has it that he will be back for Friday’s opener.  Starting in Kurz’ place was sophomore forward Zach Hillesland.  He made the most of it, hitting for nine points in the first half.

The Irish, who led at the half, 50-33, continue to be a much improved team on the inside.  That includes both the offense and defense.  Luke Zeller and Zach Hillesland each had two blocked shots.  Zeller and Luke Harangody had nine rebounds each.

Notre Dame was all over the place on defense.  They forced twenty-two turnovers.  They also had ten steals.

The exhibition season is now over.  The Irish looked impressive in their two exhibition games.  They open up on Friday, November the 10th versus Central Michigan.

Irish Blue And Gold Items

*For the second game in a row, when Irish Head Coach Mike Brey was announced there were no cheers.  As a matter of fact there was a smattering of boos.

*Zach Hillesland was impressive, particularly in the first half of tonight’s game.  He scored a total of 9 points.  But, there is no doubt, the energy guy this season is Hillesland.

*Tory Jackson is another energy guy.  He is lightning quick.  He will definitely be an asset, both offensively and defensively.

Look for game recaps all season long from Mark Allen of Irish Blue And Gold.  The staff, which includes Louie Villalobos and Tom Hamilton, invites you to join our message board and contribute to a very good group of Fighting Irish fans.  Go to www.irishblueandgold.com and click on the “Message Boards” icon (it’s contained in the picture of the woman in a green shirt with raised arms) on the left side of the page and register. 

Put it away.

By Louie Villalobos
http://www.irishblueandgold.com 

It would be nice if Notre Dame could finish a game early. North Carolina came in 1-7 with a lameduck coach. There was really no reason why the Irish couldn’t have secured this game in the second quarter and sent the Tar Heels back to the south with an embarassing loss.

Instead, the Irish defense and special teams let North Carolina feel they had a chance for much of the game. Reality finally sank in because Brady Quinn and his offense was more than willing to shoot it out. Quinn finished with 349 passing yards and Jeff Samardzija had a massive game and got a team touchdown record. Notre Dame 45, North Carolina 26.

The Tar Heels rang up 245 yards of offense and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Joe Dailey, who took over the quarterback job for the heels, threw for more than 200 yards and NC receiver Hakeen Nicks had 6 receptions for 170 yards. Remeber, this is a team that came to South Bend with only one win.

The Irish defense is going to have to do much better than that against Air Force, not to mention USC. But what else is new, right? The Irish played down to an opponent, the offense was stellar, and they won the game. That’s all that matters?

Not if we’re talking about the BSC title game. Not if we’re talking about Notre Dame being a dominant team for years to come. Go Irish.