Dec. 02, 2015

Box Score | Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (AP) — Madison Cable came up big for third-ranked Notre Dame with its top two big players sitting on the bench with injuries.

The 5-foot-10 guard hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 56 seconds left then made a pair of free throws with 7 seconds remaining to clinch the win as the Fighting Irish held on to beat No. 10 Ohio State 75-72 on Wednesday night.

Cable’s 25 points topped the previous career-high of 22 points she had in a 92-84 overtime victory over UCLA against on Saturday.

”I was kind of open and I knew that we needed to shoot it and at least try to get a rebound if it didn’t go in,” Cable said. ”I had a decent look. Luckily it went in.”

Cable was 5 of 9 from 3-point range and added 11 rebounds and three steals

”She’s as good a shooter as there is in college basketball, and she played great tonight,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said.

The Buckeyes had a chance to tie it, but Mychal Johnson fouled Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell just before she made a 3-pointer that didn’t count. Mitchell’s 3-pointer at the buzzer clanged off the rim.

Mitchell, who tied a school record with 42 points against Texas A&M on Saturday, led the Buckeyes (4-3) with 27 points. Shayla Cooper had 18 points and 15 rebounds and Ameryst Alston scored 13.

Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said the Irish struggled to slow Mitchell.

”Kelsey Mitchell is phenomenal. She is electric. She is really difficult to guard. She puts so much pressure on the defense the way she attacks the basket,” she said.

Lindsay Allen added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Irish (7-0), who played with four guards most of the game because starting forwards Brianna Turner and Taya Reimer are injured.

Despite Ohio State’s size advantage, the Irish had a 45-34 rebounding edge as they used their quickness to their advantage. Hannah Huffman had nine rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds.

”I thought that was the difference in the game,” McGuff said. ”I thought we were fine through the first half, but then in the third quarter especially we really got beat on the glass. They got too many second-chance points.”

The Buckeyes outscored the Irish 36-30 in the paint and had a 24-19 advantage in points off turnovers.

No Ohio State players were made available for comment after the game.

TIP-INS

Ohio State: Alexa Hart extended her streak of having at least one blocked shot to 27 straight games. … Ohio State is 2-7 in the history of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, including losing four straight. … The Buckeyes are 9-51 against teams ranked in the top five with the last victory coming against No. 3 Oklahoma in a 74-67 victory in 2006.

Notre Dame: Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw improved to 2-2 against former assistants. The Irish beat Penn State, coached by Coquese Washington, 77-67 in 2013. Toledo, coached then by Bill Fennelly, beat the Irish 85-62 in 1989 and 70-69 in 1990. Fennelly is now coach at Iowa State. … Notre Dame is 3-0 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. … Notre Dame is 23-5 against top 10 opponents the past four seasons. … The Irish are 99-6 at home since the arena was renovated before the 2009-10 season.

MASH UNIT

McGraw said Turner still had to discuss her shoulder injury with a doctor and then make a decision on whether she will need season-ending surgery or try to play with a brace. McGraw said she expects a decision soon.

She said Reimer has been cleared to play.

”It’s kind of up to her pain tolerance. We’re going to have to manage that and figure that out,” she said.

RELUCTANT OPPONENTS

McGuff was an assistant for McGraw for six seasons, including when the Irish won the national championship in 2001. Both McGraw and McGuff, whose wife, Letitia, also is a former McGraw player and assistant, said they didn’t enjoy the matchup.

”I hate it. I really hate it. Because we spent so much time together here. We have such a history with the whole family,” McGraw said.

McGuff said he’s usually cheering for the Irish.

”That’s the biggest thing. You’re trying so hard to beat someone you really care about and spent so much time with,” he said.

UP NEXT

Ohio State is at Cincinnati on Sunday.

Notre Dame plays at No. 1 Connecticut on Saturday.