Niele Ivey, Sonia Citron speak after Notre Dame beats Northwestern
EVANSTON, Ill. — Notre Dame beat Northwestern, 92-58, in a game that seemed uneventful on the surface. However, some fireworks throughout kept things interesting, and this will be one of those rare 34-point games that is talked about within both programs for the rest of the season thanks to technical fouls and ejections. Both the win and those fireworks were talked about when Niele Ivey and sonia citron met with the media afterwards. Here is some of what was said:
Ivey's opening statement
“I’m obviously happy to get the win on the road. That was a very ugly game with the fouls and the techs. I was very disappointed with the lack of composure there, so it’s something I’m gonna fix. But overall, Sonia did a great job of just being solid tonight. She was 6 for 6 at the half, really kept us going at times with the breaks in play and all the fouls situations, so I thought she was really solid. And (I) just want to continue to grow and get better from this game. I just thought it was kind of a very ugly game.”
Ivey on what she knows about this team that she didn't know in the preseason
“I think we’re still trying to figure out our identity. I feel like we show it in spurts. I think every game has been a different scenario. Last game, we had some foul trouble. Today, it was breakage in play with all of the fouls and stoppage in play. We’re a team that can really get going offensively when we’re pushing pace. And so, I feel like every day, I’m learning what we look like. I know that I talk a lot about our cohesiveness, being a lot better in the last several weeks, and I think that that still is happening, but we still have a lot of areas to grow. So I think every day, you’re gonna see a little bit. Hopefully, a better adjustment and also a better growth with this team.”
Ivey on whether Citron and Lauren Ebo's first-half scoring spurts were effects of strategy
“We knew that (the Wildcats) were gonna show the blizzard. They’re really good defensively, showing different looks defensively, so we’ve been working on the looks versus their zone. And also, I knew just even with their zone, I really wanted it to look inside-out with our post presence. At the half, Ebo was 5 for 5. (She) was in foul trouble, but she was 5 for 5. So having that balance of having that inside-out presence, I thought they did a really good job of that. It’s something that we were game-planning for coming in.”
Ivey on the first-half scuffle that resulted in three Northwestern players being ejected for leaving the bench
“I’m not sure how it got heated. Again, it’s something I’ve never been a part of, so I use it as a teaching moment. I think both teams were just being competitive, and their arms kind of got flailed together, and unfortunately, it kind of just got out of hand. But hopefully, it’s a lesson for both teams.”
Ivey on whether Ebo is seen as a 'sixth' starter
“Absolutely. (I) definitely feel like we have six starters. I mean, she’s incredible when she gets the ball in position. She does a great job, great hands. One of the best finishers in the country. (We’re) just trying to keep her on the floor.”
Ivey on whether Ebo's foul trouble is frustrating
“Absolutely. I kind of talked to her about just finding ways to adjust to the game. Right now, the point of emphasis is post play and hand checks. We actually had (women’s basketball supervisor of officials) Debbie Williamson from the ACC come in and speak to our group about it. The point of emphasis this season is those two (things). So we watch film with (Ebo), we talk about it, we show her, so she’s gonna get better at it.”
Citron on whether she can continue to have high-scoring games
“I think making my first shot personally always gets me going. Honestly, I think that if I’m this aggressive and I’m confident in my game and I put in the work to make the shot, I think, hopefully, it works like that every game. That’s the goal.”
Citron on how she picks her spots to take over games
“I feel like as a team, you just take what’s open, so I was open a lot around the 3-point line, and my teammates found me. Some games, it’s gonna be more on the inside, and we’re gonna try to find the post, but honestly, I think we just take what’s given to us, and I was open.”
What Ivey wants the team's identity to be
“Forty minutes of really intense competitive basketball defensively. We’re gonna try to play without fouling. The last two games, we haven’t done that successfully for 40 minutes, so I would say that. I think we have a great balance offensively. I think we share the ball. We’re very unselfish. But it’s just finding that niche defensively, I think.”
Ivey on the guard play without Olivia Miles, who was ejected in the third quarter
“I thought they did a great job. I mean, (Dara Mabrey’s) our backup point guard, and we’ve been working, even in practice, (on) having second ball-handlers. I thought they did a good job of running offense. Jenna (Brown) came in, helped us out a lot, and Sonia obviously is a good ball-handler. So I thought they did a good job adjusting to that.”
