no reason the Sens cant still be in the playoff hunt. But weve said t

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw learned something about her team Monday night. The top-ranked Irish can win ugly.The Irish struggled at times on offense, but Arike Ogunbowale scored 13 points to help them beat a pesky Fordham squad, 67-36 in a preseason WNIT quarterfinal game.Ogunbowale, who earned ACC player of the week honors earlier in the day, had a steal and layup to put the Irish up by 20 points early in the fourth quarter, just four minutes after Fordham had cut the lead to eight.Its a great thing to learn about this team, that we can win ugly, McGraw said. We missed a lot of shots and we were frustrated early, but we kept our composure.After shooting over 52 percent in a 60-point win over Central Michigan to open the season, Notre Dame shot 42 percent against Fordham, including making just one of eight 3-pointers.The offense the other night, we couldnt miss, McGraw said. Tonight, we couldnt make a shot, but we kept working on defense and never let it get to us.The Rams werent any better, shooting just 23 percent, including 2 of 19 from 3.Lindsay Allen finished with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Irish (2-0).Gmrice Davis led Fordham (1-1) with nine points and 15 rebounds.PLAYER OF THE GAMEThe Irish hit just one of their first 12 shots to open the second half after ending the first half by going scoreless for nearly three minutes before Allens leaner in the paint gave them a 14-point halftime advantage.Anna Kellys jumper from the left corner with three minutes left in the third quarter cut Notre Dames lead to 36-28, but the Irish got a spark from an unlikely source. Reserve center Kristina Nelson scored the next six points while grabbing a pair of offensive rebounds.I thought Kristina Nelson was player of the game, she made some huge plays for us, McGraw said.Notre Dame loosened up from there and turned it into a rout in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Rams 20-4 in the final 10 minutes.When (Nelson) made that mini run and got those hustle plays, that revved us up a little bit, Allen said. It gave us that energy that we needed.SURPRISE VISITORFormer Notre Dame mens coach Digger Phelps stopped by the Fordham shoot around at Purcell Pavilion earlier in the day and stayed long enough to give the undersized Rams some inspiration.He just walked in out of nowhere and made a great speech to the kids, said Fordham coach Stephanie Gaitley. He talked to them about one of his teams that was small and had injuries, and they left it all out there. As you can see, we go four guards out, but I was really proud of our effort, I thought we gave a great defensive effort. Their size and talent just over-powered us at the end.BIG PICTUREFordham: Gaitley remains stuck at 99 wins in her sixth year at Fordham, which is making its first appearance in the preseason WNIT. This game also marked the first time Fordham has faced the nations top-ranked team.Notre Dame: Jackie Young, last years Naismith National High School Player of the Year, sat out a second game with a thumb injury, but could be back on Thursday as the Irish continue working toward their second ever preseason WNIT championship (2004).UP NEXTFordham: The Rams play a consolation game on either Friday or Saturday against an opponent yet to be determined.Notre Dame: The Irish host Green Bay in the WNIT semifinal round on Thursday Mike Scott Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Mike Scott Astros Jersey . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/jose-cruz-jr-astros-jersey/ . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Jake Marisnick Astros Jersey . LOUIS -- St. Hector Rondon Astros Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. It feels like the hockey seasons been underway for, well, weeks. And thanks to the World Cup of Hockey, some of the NHLs best players should be starting the regular season in midseason form, which isnt a bad thing. So, without further ado, we bring you episode one of the ongoing drama of the Power Rankings. Bring it on.1.?Pittsburgh PenguinsThe defending Stanley Cup champions always start the season in the top perch. Its tradition. Now, Sidney Crosbys concussion diagnosis?certainly casts a pall over the start of the season. So how long the Penguins remain on top will depend on how quickly Crosby comes back and on how veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, who will start the season as the Pens starting netminder due to postseason star?Matt Murray?being injured, holds down the fort in goal.2. San Jose SharksIts not necessarily tradition, but well put the Sharks in the second spot, given that theyre coming off their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals. They shouldnt have too much of a drop-off thanks to some nice offseason work by San Jose general manager Doug Wilson.3. Washington CapitalsWin now or bust is pretty much the slogan for the Caps, who tore through the regular season in 2015-16, but were dumped in six games in the second round of the playoffs by Pittsburgh. Washington is still a force from top to bottom.4. Tampa Bay LightningTheres lots to like about the Eastern Conference finalists. Can GM Steve Yzerman continue his magic and get Nikita Kucherov under contract and on the ice? And what, ultimately, will become of goalie?Ben Bishop as he enters the last year of his contract?5. Chicago BlackhawksA rare one-and-done playoff run last spring should mean that the Blackhawks are well rested. This team is still loaded up and down the lineup. We love the repatriation of defenseman Brian Campbell?and cant wait for Marian Hossa to get career goal No. 500. The future Hall of Famer enters the season one away from the milestone.6. Dallas StarsDoes anyone expect GM Jim Nill to finish the season with Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen as his goaltenders? With an upgrade between the pipes and some good luck when it comes to the health of stars Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin,?the Stars could be headed to the finals.7. Nashville PredatorsIs this the season Nashville gets over the hump? How big of an impact will P.K. Subban have -- and will they miss longtime captain Shea Weber more than they think? This might be the best lineup from top to bottom that the Predators have ever iced. Now can they take advantage of it?8. Montreal CanadiensThe Habs are coming off a train wreck of a season that saw Carey Price miss all but a month or so of action. Price is back and in terrific form thanks to Canadas run at the World Cup of Hockey. Weber brings a whole new level of seriousness to the proceedings -- and how about the potential impact of former bad boy Alexander Radulov?9. Florida PanthersTheres a weird dynamic in Florida, where ownership shook things up after the Panthers won their division. So well have to see how the changes affected the karma. We love the addition of Keith Yandle but wonder about?Roberto Luongos durability. Its possible that goalie?James Reimer may be the Cats most important offseason addition.10. Anaheim DucksRandy Carlyle is back behind the bench, and this is still a dangerous team capable of winning the Pacific Division. But the Ducks need to get Hampus Lindholms and Rickard Rakells respective?contracts sorted out. The reality is that time is running out for Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler et al.11. Calgary FlamesIf Brian Elliott can rise to the challenge of being the man in Calgary, this isnt just a playoff team but a potential division winner. The Flames are deep defensively and given their plentiful great young offensive parts they are on the cusp -- assuming, of course, they get?Johnny Gaudreaus contract resolved sooner rather than later.12. St. Louis BluesIts a year of transition for the Blues, as Ken Hitchcock prepares to bow out in favor of assistant coach Mike Yeo. The losses of David Backes and Troy Brouwer will mean new leaders need to step up in St. Louis. Its now?Jake Allens bus. Can he drive it back to the playoffs?13. Minnesota WildBruce Boudreau is one of the most successful regular-season coaches in the game. We expect the Wild to get back to the playoffs with Eric Staal enjoying a nice bounce--back season in Minnesota.dddddddddddd14. Carolina HurricanesWe dont mind saying we werent sure what to make of the bottom end of the Metropolitan Division, but we do love the skilled, speedy, youthful Hurricanes. And its time, isnt it, for some good news in Raleigh? We have them third in the Metro.15. New York RangersThe Rangers could finish anywhere in the Metro, but we like them here. GM Jeff Gorton has done a nice job of getting younger up front without giving up too much. Now, can the aging defense come together after a miserable end to the season against Pittsburgh?16. Los Angeles KingsAnze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick can pretty much carry this team into the playoffs by themselves. They may have to.17. Arizona CoyotesWill the Yotes soon be putting shovel to ground on a new home? Will the on-ice product reflect the nice work done by young GM John Chayka? The playoffs arent out of the realm of possibility for coach Dave Tippetts young charges.18. Boston BruinsWe think the Bruins are going to be better than most people think theyre going to be. In short, we dont think they stink. In fact, we kind of like them as a playoff team. At least right now we do.19. Philadelphia FlyersThe Flyers were a surprise part of the playoff tournament last spring and Dave Hakstol is going to be even more comfortable in his second season as an NHL bench boss. But we have to think a slight correction is in store for the Flyers.20. New Jersey DevilsThe playoffs could be in the cards for the Devils if Taylor Hall?properly channels his inner anger at being traded and if Cory Schneider is aces once again. That defense, though, needs to be better than the sum of its parts after the departure of Adam Larsson.21. New York IslandersLots of teams got better in the Metro and in the Eastern Conference overall. We dont think the Islanders were one of them. Its time to ramp up sale of those John Tavares to Toronto T-shirts.22. Winnipeg JetsA big season for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice begins with a big dilemma: what to do about disgruntled, restricted free-agent defenseman Jacob Trouba. All else that follows for the Jets this season flows from what happens with him.23. Edmonton OilersWho knows just how great new teenage captain Connor McDavid is going to be? As for the Oilers, how big a jump will they need to make this season to consider the corner turned? Theyre not quite ready for the playoffs, but they cant be out of it by November either.24. Buffalo SabresWe want to believe in the Sabres. We really do. And we love the addition of Kyle Okposo. But lets see if Robin Lehner is the real deal, and lets see if Evander Kane has learned anything about being a pro over the past few months.25. Detroit Red WingsFrans Nielsen was terrific during the World Cup of Hockey. So was Tomas Tatar. Thomas Vanek? Not so much. Vaneks play was kind of like the Wings -- some good, some bad but not enough to make you stop and pay attention. Detroits playoff streak is definitely in jeopardy.26. Ottawa SenatorsNew head coach Guy Boucher will have his hands full trying to forge an identity for the Senators, who seem to have lost their way the past couple of seasons. Theres no reason the Sens cant still be in the playoff hunt. But weve said the same things the past couple of years.27. Colorado AvalancheWere going to find out pretty quickly whether the Avalanche really do stink or whether it was just their head coach who did. There will be lots of pressure on Jared Bednar, the minor pro coach who replaced Patrick Roy after Roy bolted in August -- but the Avs have little place to go but up.28. Columbus Blue JacketsThe Blue Jackets could be a playoff team. We dont think they will be, but they could be. Watch for Sergei Bobrovsky to get off to a great start and make this placement look silly.29. Toronto Maple LeafsOh, the optimism in Toronto is almost nauseating. Sure, theyll be fun to watch, but if anyone expects the 30th overall team from last season to be anything but a stones throw from 30th overall again this season, they havent been paying attention.30. Vancouver CanucksEveryone else seems to be moving forward while the Canucks, most charitably, seem to be going sideways -- or is that in circles? ' ' '