Key players for both teams
Both teams have tremendous players. Samuelson, ESPN’s No.3 top women’s player in 2018-19, and Ogwumbowale, No. 4 on ESPN’s list, headline the list of stud players in the contest. Collier, Brianna Turner, Jessica Shephard, and Crystal Dangerfield are other players that made ESPN’s top-25 list.
UConn
Katie Lou Samuelson (20.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.0 apg): The 6-foot-3 wing is a scorer who is prolific from behind the three-point line. She is third in the program’s history with 311 trifectas and fourth in three-point percentage at 43.0 percent. Samuelson, who has topped the 20-point mark in three of his last four games has poured in 45 points on 17-for-25 (68 percent) shooting from the field and 9-for-11 (82.2 percent) from the three-point line in her last two appearances.
Napheesa Collier (18.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.5 apg): The 6-foot-2 forward can do it all on both ends of the floor. Collier is coming off her best game of the season against DePaul as she made 11 of 19 shots and compiled season highs with four offensive rebounds along with seven assists. She has scored at least 15 points and shot 53.0 percent or better from the field in each game this season. Also, Collier has collected nine or more boards in her last five games.
Crystal Dangerfield (13.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.3 apg): The 5-foot-5 junior is one of the best point guards in the game. She is an excellent shooter and playmaker. Dangerfield, who is very fast, can get to the hoop but she also can knock down jump shots on a consistent basis. She is shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from long distance.
Megan Walker (11.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.3 apg): The 6-foot-1 sophomore wing has made tremendous strides in year two. She is an outstanding shooter who also works hard on the boards. Walker, who has scored in double-figures three times this season, is shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 41.2 percent on three-point attempts.
Christyn Williams (10.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg): The 5-foot-11 freshman guard is improving every game. She is very talented and tallied 15 points and two assists on 7-for-9 shooting from the floor against DePaul. It was her second straight double-digit game and third in the last four outings. Williams, who drilled a season-best five three-pointers on Nov. 24, is shooting 61.0 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Kyla Irwin, Mikayla Coombs, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa are the Huskies key reserves.
Notre Dame
Arike Ogunbowale (25.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg): The 5-foot-8 senior guard is a big-time playmaker who can score from anywhere on the court from 23 feet and in. She has scored at least 20 points in each of the seven games this season, topping the 30-point plateau on three occasions. Ogunbowale, who is an excellent defender, has 40 20-point games in her career, which is the fourth-most in program history.
Jackie Young (17.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.2 apg): The 6-foot versatile junior guard ” aka Big Game Jackie” has stepped up her play against ranked teams this year, averaging 22.0 points, 9.3 caroms and 5.0 assists in the Irish’s three games against ranked opponents. She has scored at least 15 points in four of the last five games and has totaled five or more dimes in four straight games. Young is shooting 55.0 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Jessica Shephard (17.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg): The 6-foot-4 senior forward is one of the best post players in the game and is an excellent offensive rebounder. She has compiled three double-doubles and has scored in double-figures in each of her six games this year. Shepard, who is a willing passer, is shooting 59.5 percent from the field.
Brianna Turner (14.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg,1.5 bpg): The 6-foot-3 senior forward looks powerful after coming back an ACL injury that cost her all of last season. She is excellent around the basket and one of the best rim protectors in the game. Turner picked up her fourth double-double of the campaign, and 25th of her career, with 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes against Iowa. It was her sixth double-digit scoring effort and fourth game of 10 or more rebounds.
Marina Mabry (13.5 ppg, 3.5 apg): The 5-foot-11 senior guard just returned to action after missing the first five games of the season with a quadriceps injury. She is an excellent shooter and does a nice job running the offense, although she does have an issue with turnovers. Mabry had 18 points, five assists and one turnover against Iowa. Mabry made six of 13 shots in the game, including three of nine three-point shots.
Danielle Patterson, Kaitlyn Nixon Mikayla Vaughn, and Abby Prohaska are critical members off the bench for the Irish.