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Bruszewski scores 19 to lead ND to 102-57 win

Nov 16, 2009 - 3:08 AM By TOM COYNE AP Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind.(AP) -- Coach Muffet McGraw was not as excited as the 9,080 fans about fourth-ranked Notre Dame breaking the 100-point barrier at home for the first time in seven years in a 102-57 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday night.

"I don't care how many points we score," she said. "I'm looking at the other one, and 57 is just too many. That's where we're trying to emphasize. We can score. We've got a lot of depth. We've got a lot of people who can score. Defensively, that's what I'm looking for, who our five best defenders are."

Becca Bruszewski led eight Irish players in double figures as Notre Dame (1-0) dominated inside against the smaller Lady Lions (0-2), who surrendered 100 for a second straight game. Bruszewski consistently cut through Pine Bluff's 2-3 zone defense for baskets inside.

"I wasn't really hitting well from outside, so cleaning up inside and just staying in the paint," she said.

Ashley Barlow added 15 points, freshman Skylar Diggins had 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Shay Holmes led Pine Bluff with 14 points, Jasmine Abrams had 13 and Rekevia Brown scored 12.

The Irish opened the game up with their pressing defense, forcing 33 turnovers.

"We knew what it was going to be like before we got here, but not to that magnitude," Pine Bluff coach Cary Shelton said. "They just lure you into it. They just walk you right smack into it."

The Irish got caught up in the Pine Bluff tempo at times and had 27 turnovers of their own.

"We were a little sloppy ... a lot sloppy. We've got a lot of things to tighten up," McGraw said.

The crowd at the refurbished Purcell Pavilion was the biggest ever for an opening game for Notre Dame and the 14th largest ever.

"The crowd was electric from the start of the game," McGraw said. "It was almost deafening. I think it's going to be a great home-court advantage."