Irish women’s coach McGraw seeking better defense

By TOM COYNE AP Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind.(AP)—Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw figures she can make at least one person happy while trying to find enough playing time for 14 players.

That person is the coach herself. That’s because she’ll have plenty of substitutes if anyone isn’t playing defense up to her standards.

“It’s going to be a great motivator for them to play well and to play hard defensively because there is going to be so many people on the bench waiting to come in and take their spot if they don’t,” McGraw said Thursday during media day.

The Fighting Irish return all 12 players from last season’s team that went 22-9, losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament. They also add guards Kaila Turner and Skylar Diggins, whom McGraw has described as the best player she’s ever recruited.

McGraw blamed poor 3-point defense for Notre Dame’s first-round exit from the NCAA tournament last year. With better defense, the goal of this team should be at least making the Sweet 16. Playing for a national championship isn’t out of reach, McGraw said.

“We feel like we can get to that point, but we have to kind of find our rotation and figure out we’re going to play without a dominating center,” she said.

The development of forward Becca Bruszewski, who averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds a game last season, will be key. She’s been one of the team’s most improved players each of the past two years.

“I think she’s someone that’s been in the background and is ready to break through,” McGraw said.

The Irish also will be looking for improved play from 6-2 forward Erica Solomon, who averaged 6 points and 4.5 rebounds, and 6-4 center Erica Williamson, who averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds. Both are recovering from ankle injuries.

The Irish also hope forward Devereaux Peters will be back after Christmas. She tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee last season, the second time she did it in nine months.

The strength for the Irish is at guard with starters Ashley Barlow (12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds), Lindsay Schrader (12.6 points, 7.4 rebounds), Melissa Lechlitner (10.6 points, 4.4 assists) and Natalie Novosel (6.9 points), 3-point specialist Kellie Watson and Brittany Mallory, who was averaging 8.1 points and 3.3 rebounds before tearing the ACL in her left knee last season.

“We’ve got as good guards as anyone in the country,” McGraw said.

The Irish also add Diggins, who is from South Bend and was the Gatorade and Naismith national player of the year while at Washington High School last season. Fans are so excited that the school sold a record 7,500 season tickets.

McGraw is a little concerned about having so many players, but said the team chemistry is good. Diggins said the players understand they’ll get their chance.

“Whether it’s starting a game or finishing a game, everybody here is going to have their moment and everybody is going to have their time,” she said.

As long as they play defense.