Notre Dame has been the victim of a buzzer-beater earlier this year, losing to Diamond Miller and Maryland. But on Thursday night, the Irish were the ones dishing out the heartbreak.
The Irish were tied with Louisville in overtime at home in South Bend and would get possession with 3.8 seconds left. The inbounds pass went to Sonia Citron, who handed the ball off to Olivia Miles, who proved to be cool and clutch.
She curled around a defender, took one dribble and then pulled up and faded away from mid-range.
Swish. Buzzer. Game.
Miles’ teammates mobbed her in celebration. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for Notre Dame against the Cardinals, a streak that dated back to when both were in the Big East.
OLIVIA MILES CALLED GAME 🚨 pic.twitter.com/PesbaFc6xC
— ESPN (@espn) February 17, 2023
The ridiculously awesome shot left both Miles and Irish head coach Niele Ivey were a bit aghast and astounded afterwards.
“I’m almost speechless because that was just a moment,” Ivey said in the postgame press conference. “In the last couple minutes, I told the team it’s time for us to separate ourselves, and that shot is what you call separation. That was unbelievable.”
“I blacked out,” Miles said with a smile. “I don’t know what just happened.”
A candidate for ACC Player of the Year, Miles finished the game with 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists – just one dime shy of what would’ve been her fourth career triple-double. On the season, she’s averaging 15 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. Her assist percentage of 42.8 is third-best in the nation.
And because No. 9 Duke lost Thursday night at No. 11 Virginia Tech, the sophomore guard’s clutch bucket moved Notre Dame back into a first-place tie with the Blue Devils for the lead in the ACC, a conference that has been wild and wide open this season.
Notre Dame is projected to host first-round games in the NCAA Tournament and have the 10th-best odds to win the national championship.
Women’s basketball fans loved the shot too, reacting how you might expect on Twitter.
Cards/Irish my GAWD 👀👀👀👀
— Travis Lund (@arenaapothecary) February 17, 2023
Olivia Miles the Magician!!! What a shot!
— Kelly Gramlich (@kellygramlich) February 17, 2023
OLIVIA MILES OLIVIA MILES OLIVIA MILES OLIVIA MILES
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) February 17, 2023
Olivia Miles build the statue right this second !! She is a superstar !!!
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) February 17, 2023
Wowowowowowoow Miles
— TerpTalk (@terptalkwbb) February 17, 2023
Olivia. Freaking. Miles.
— Eden Laase-Derouin (@eden_laase) February 17, 2023
DAMSHA BUA OLIVIA MILES IS A DEMENTOR pic.twitter.com/iYqxgAdGPF
— One Foot Down (@OneFootDown) February 17, 2023
