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Two of the best women’s basketball teams in the country — each boasting one of the brightest stars in the ACC — will square off Sunday at Cassel Coliseum.
Sixth-ranked Virginia Tech (10-0, 1-0 ACC) hosts fifth-ranked Notre Dame (8-1, 0-0) at 4 p.m. in a game broadcast on the ACC Network.
It will be the first time two top-10 women’s basketball teams have met in Kassel.
“Whoever wins this game … looks like the favorite in the league, at least this way-so early,” ACC Network analyst Kelly Gramlich said in a phone interview Friday. “Both teams are final four contenders.
“I was talking. [ESPN’s] Rebecca told me the other day that she thinks Lobo and Virginia Tech are a Final Four contender.
“Virginia Tech’s focus should be on getting a top four seed. [in an NCAA tournament bracket so Tech can host the first two rounds], which they are definitely on the fast track to do at this point. If you’re hosting a women’s game in the NCAA tournament, that’s the difference.”
Tech’s center Elizabeth Keightley is the ACC Player of the Year. But Notre Dame features point guard Olivia Miles, who is coming off the third triple-double of her college career.
Which player can use the upper hand? Gramlich said. “I think you have two of the best players in the ACC in this game so far.
“Both are top 10 players in the country.”
The Fighting Irish lost to Maryland 74-72 this season and won 74-60 at UConn.
“They’re very talented,” Tech coach Kenny Brooks said in a phone interview.
Notre Dame ranks sixth in the nation in scoring offense (88.2 ppg), while the Hokies rank third nationally in scoring defense (48.5 ppg).
“They like to get up and down the floor,” Brooks said of the Fighting Irish. “Myles, …she’s amazing in transition, so we have to be able to slow her down.
“And they’re big and strong inside … they’re a very versatile basketball team.”
The Fighting Irish’s first opponent this season will be Tech.
“I think people are looking at Virginia Tech and thinking, ‘They’re really talented, but are they tested?'” Gramlich said.
The Hokies beat Nebraska, which beat a Maryland team that beat Notre Dame. The Hokies have wins over Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri. Nebraska and Tennessee were both ranked in the preseason.
“We played to the skill level that we needed to prepare us for this game,” Brooks said.
The 5-foot-10 Miles, in her third season at Notre Dame, averaged 16.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists. She had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists in last weekend’s loss to Merrimack.
“She’s very lethal in transition,” Gramlich said. “I think her vision on the floor is the best in the country. I think her size at the point guard position is exceptional. … When she runs the floor, she can see everything really well. That helps her get inside.”
But Notre Dame is not a one-woman show.
Sophomore guard Sonya Citron averages 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds.
“My favorite player on their team is Citron,” Brooks said. “There are challenges everywhere.”
In the year The average of the graduating student is 12.3.
“Special shooter,” Gramlich said. “She’s very confident.”
The other starters are forward Maddie Westbeld (8.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Oregon transfer Kylee Watson (8.3 ppg).
Texas graduate transfer Lauren Ibo is averaging 11.2 points and 6.1 rebounds off the bench.
Limiting Notre Dame’s trips to the free-throw line will be important for Tech. Notre Dame leads the way with an average of 20.7 free throws.
“That’s something Virginia Tech needs to know, defensively,” Gramlich said.
Notre Dame ranks fourth nationally in hitting opponents with 16.1 rebounds per game.
“We have to make sure we put a body on them,” Brooks said. “That’s one of the things we’ve talked about, we’ve got to not only get the first stop, but we’ve got to finish with defensive rebounds.”
Keithley averaged 18.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. She is one of only five healthy hockey players to average double figures in points.
6-4 Ebo, 6-4 Watson, 6-3 Westbeld and 6-5 backup Natalia Marshall could take turns guarding the 6-6 Keithley.
“I think they’re going to try to hate her one-on-one … because they have that depth inside of them,” Gramlich said.
Notre Dame has won 10 of the last 11 meetings in the series, including the last three.
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