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Notre Dame’s Michaela Mabrey (23), left, motions to teammates as Miami’s Adrienne Motley (23) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Feb. 14 in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

Notre Dame Women’s Basketball – a Dash to the Finish

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Arike Ogunbowale (2) shoots the ball around Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Ariel Stephenson (25) in the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest 86-52. (Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Arike Ogunbowale (2) shoots the ball around Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Ariel Stephenson (25) in the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest 86-52. (Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports)

Our Notre Dame women’s basketball team is set to start a three game swing to wrap up February, before heading into the ACC tournament.

Monday’s matchup against 10th/9th ranked Florida State will be televised on ESPN2 (7PM ET) as part of its Big Monday lineup. This will be the only meeting this season between the Irish and the Seminoles and the first time since the Notre Dame beat Florida State in the ACC tourney championship last year. The Irish have played eight ranked opponents this season, with the Seminoles serving as the ninth (the third ranked opponent in the last four games). With a healthy dose of tough competition heading into the ACC Tournament, we can expect Muffet McGraw’s team sharpened and primed heading into postseason play.

I personally think that we have taken for granted what Coach McGraw has been able to do with the Irish program and this year is no exception. It almost seems under-the-radar, but the team has really put together an impressive resume despite the sole loss to Geno’s squad in Storrs back in December. The Irish are getting a lot of production out of its squad and the points are coming from younger players/first time starters (sophomore Kathryn Westbeld, my pick as an impact player when she signed for 2014, has put together an impressive season). Freshman guards Arike Ogunbowale and Marina Mabrey further add to the offensive production off the bench and I have to think Muffet McGraw feels like Hannibal from the A-Team with such a balanced and talented squad.

This three game swing isn’t going to tell us much about our Irish squad that we already don’t know, but it represents an opportunity to hone in on playing competitively to head into the postseason (ND has already secured a double bye in the ACC Tournament).  I’m looking forward to what Notre Dame brings to this year’s tourney as a sure fire #1 seed.

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