Tennessee needs no reminders about its recent history with Notre Dame.
After winning the first 20 games in this series, the Lady Volunteers have lost to Notre Dame by double-digit margins each of the last four seasons. That gives the sixth-ranked Lady Vols (15-2) loads of incentive as they put their 11-game winning streak on the line Monday at No. 7 Notre Dame (16-2).
“I think we have a great opportunity to go down there and get a great win against a good basketball team,” Tennessee senior forward Cierra Burdick said. “In my career, I’ve never beaten Notre Dame, and I definitely want to check that off the list.”
A victory also would help the Lady Vols wipe away the memories of their last trip to Notre Dame, when they fell 72-44 during the 2011-12 season in the second-most lopsided defeat of former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt’s 38-year tenure.
“They had their way with us, and it was embarrassing,” Burdick said. “It was on national television. The score was taped all around our locker room for the next month. The walls were covered. We don’t want that to happen again.”