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Only five Notre Dame players scored in its 67-54 victory against Utah in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
But two of those players, Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel, scored 20 each. Devereaux Peters and Becca Bruszewski combined for 25. Natalie Achonwa managed two.
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw acknowledged her team was rusty.
"We didn't seem to get into a flow," she said, adding that the Irish defense spurs the offense. "That's our game. Defensively, we were bad."
Novosel looked at the two weeks between games as the reason.
"We were anxious and excited," she said. "We settled down after halftime."
Playoff history
Notre Dame is now 3-0 all-time against Utah, including two victories in the NCAA Tournament. In 2001, as the Irish went on the win the national championship, they defeated the Utes in the Sweet 16, 69-54.
The Fighting Irish also advanced to the second round for the 14th time in school history and the second in a row. Notre Dame is one victory away from advancing to the Sweet 16 for the 10th time in school history.
The victory also kept No. 2 seeds a perfect 70-0 all-time against the 15th seed.
Fly swatter
As Notre Dame began to take control, Peters, the Irish's 6-foot-2 forward, also was making her presence felt.
The senior did not have a block in the first half, but finished with four. She altered shots as well as converting 6 of 9 from the floor.
"Devereaux saved a lot of us," Diggins said. "She has great timing. She really affects the offense and helps us get into transition faster."
Peters also helped keep Utah post Michelle Plouffe in check much of the night. The Ute finished 2 of 12 with four turnovers.