By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For Notre Dame seniors starters Erica Williamson, Ashley Barlow, Melissa Lechlitner and Lindsay Schrader, Sunday’s NCAA opener at the Joyce Center is going to be special.

Special because it’s chance to play two more games on their home court if they can get by Cleveland State in the second game of the doubleheader. Tip-off for the Notre Dame-Cleveland State game is slated for 2:30 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN.

“It means a lot,” Lechlitner responded when asked what it meant to open the NCAA Tournament at home her final season. “We have such a huge following and our fans are great. Every season our fans come out to support us. Now that it’s tournament time, they will be even more helpful in getting us that extra little adrenaline rush.”

Schrader and Barlow, who joined Lechlitner, Irish freshman Skylar Diggins and coach Muffet McGraw at the press conference, also said that the fans have been a huge part of the success of the team for each of their four years.

But Schrader added that it’s all about the team and getting the job done.

“This is my fifth time doing this, and this is probably the most excited I’ve been because of this team and the atmosphere the fans will bring,” she said. “I’m just so excited to go out there and play. I don’t think there is anything else the coaches can tell us. It’s just all about us now, our emotion and how much we want it.”

While the three seniors have been through this before, and in the case of Schrader, been through it five times, Diggins is making her first NCAA appearance.

The freshman said she’s ready to go.

“I am excited,” Diggins answered. “I’m really excited, because it has been such a long time since we played. I’m anxious to get on the court and I know we’ve been competitive in practice because we are all just ready to get out there. I’m excited to get started tomorrow.”

Notre Dame is making its 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and second straight at home.

Unfortunately for the Irish, last year’s memories are not fond ones.

Notre Dame was defeated by Minnesota 79-71 in that contest.

All three seniors agreed that it’s in the past and they are focused on Sunday’s game against Cleveland State.

“We’re not looking back,” Barlow said.

McGraw said the team has been working hard in practice and that she sees an urgency she hasn’t picked up on since the 2001 National Championship season.

Cleveland State is comparable to BIG EAST foe Villanova, which has helped the Fighting Irish get ready for their first round game.

“I was thrilled with practice the last few days,” McGraw said. “We have worked so hard and it has probably been the best we have practiced since 2001, as far as getting our intensity and getting things done.”

She went on to say that Cleveland State is like Villanova at a faster pace.

“Villanova is a great team that likes to use the shot clock, and Cleveland State is a very good motion offense that sets a lot of screens, makes a lot of cuts,” McGraw said. “You have to be ready defensively and cannot rest when you play them. That’s the similarity with Villanova, just in the style of offense a constantly moving five-out motion.”