For the first 31 minutes of Friday’s Women’s NCAA Tournament first-round game between Notre Dame and Stephen F. Austin, the Fighting Irish fans that packed Joyce Center in South Bend experienced nothing but joy. The No. 3-seeded Irish doubled up the 14-seeded Ladyjacks in the first quarter and kept their foot on the gas, taking a 37-point advantage into the fourth quarter.

However, a minute into the fourth quarter, the celebration turned into concern when star guard Olivia Miles fell to the floor after appearing to turn her left ankle. Miles stayed down for a bit while being attended to by the training staff but eventually walked gingerly back to the locker room under her own power. The injury happened with 8:44 to play and the Irish up 82-43, raising questions about why Notre Dame was still playing their top players in such a decisive game.

While Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron led the Irish to a 106-54 win, scoring 24 points each, Miles had just two points and led the team with eight assists. Coach Niele Ivey might have been trying to get her in rhythm for upcoming contests since she is a top WNBA draft prospect. The senior came into the tournament averaging 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.

The immediate concern is not just her performance but her health for the rest of the tournament. Following the game, Ivey provided a reassuring update, stating that Miles is “going to be OK” while awaiting more information from the trainers regarding her status for the upcoming matchup against Michigan.