Achonwa seeking to find the right balance of aggressiveness as Irish seek 4th win vs. UConn

Notre Dame forwards Natalie Achonwa (11) and Ariel Braker (44) celebrate Notre Dame's win over Duke at the regional final of the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Tuesday, April 2, 2013, in Norfolk, Va. Notre Dame won 87-76. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)

Notre Dame forward Natalie Achonwa ,left, tries to claim a rebound as Kansas guard Angel Goodrich (3) reaches in during the first half of a regional semi-final of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday March 31, 2013, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)

Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw wants forward Natalie Achonwa to find the right mix of aggressiveness when the Irish play Connecticut in the NCAA semifinals on Sunday.

McGraw doesn't want Achonwa getting into foul trouble, as she did against Tennessee or against UConn in the Big East title game. But she also doesn't want her playing too timidly, as she did in the first half against Kansas last week after being called for a foul three minutes into the game.

She's looking for the type of aggression that has allowed the 6-3 junior from Canada to average 14 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game in posting a school-record 19 double-doubles.

Achonwa says part of it is mental preparation and part is simply understanding how the game is being called.