On paper, UConn shouldn’t have much trouble when Notre Dame comes to town on Monday.

The Huskies are the No. 1 team in the country, own a perfect 18-0 record and have won all but one contest by double-digits. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has struggled against top competition after losing significant talent over the offseason. The Fighting Irish already have five losses on their resume.

The recent series history between the schools suggests otherwise, though. UConn has lost its last three games against Notre Dame, tied for the second-longest such stretch in the rivalry. The Huskies have been the higher-ranked side in every contest, only to lose by double-digits each time.

Something about the Irish throws UConn off its game.

“Every game that we've had (with Notre Dame), I think we've left a lot out there and not showed up how we wanted to,” Ashlynn Shade admitted.