Jan. 21, 2018
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
| PDF Box
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The No. 5 University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team cruised past Clemson in a convincing 90-37 win on Sunday afternoon.
The Irish (18-2, 6-1) closed their three-game homestand with their 19th straight win at Purcell Pavilion, in what was their largest margin of victory ever in an ACC game, topping the Tigers (11-9, 1-6) by 53 points.
“I thought that was a well-played game from start to finish. I thought we did a lot of good things at both ends,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Women’s Basketball Head Coach Muffet McGraw said. “I thought the bench did a really good job to finish it. Overall, we saw really great stuff on offense. We rebounded better, so overall, I’m pleased with the game.”
How It Happened
The Irish defense picked up where it left off against Tennessee on Thursday night, forcing seven Clemson turnovers in the first six minutes resulting in eight points. Offensively, Notre Dame went on a 13-2 run to jump ahead 15-6, and later closed the quarter with six consecutive field goals, resulting in a 28-13 advantage. Kathryn Westbeld paced the Irish in the first with 10 points.
Just seconds into the second period, the Irish continued to roll with 10 straight points, extending their run to 23-6 from the 3:17 mark of the first quarter to the 7:17 mark in the second. Jessica Shepard led all six Irish scorers in the second period with eight points to reach 12 by the half. Furthermore, 34 of Notre Dame’s 48 first-half points came in the paint, helping the Irish to a 48-21 lead heading into the locker-room.
In the third, Jackie Young sunk back-to-back and-one layups, guiding Notre Dame on another 9-0 run midway through the period, while the defense held the Tigers without a field goal for 4:15. In the closing minutes of the period, Notre Dame rattled off nine straight made field goals to claim a 75-34 lead after three.
The Irish defense shined in the fourth quarter, allowing just one Tiger made field goal. Notre Dame outscored Clemson 15-3 in the period, sealing the 90-37 win.
Player of the Game
Jackie Young scored a career-high-tying 23 points against the Tigers. She has totaled 23 points four times this season and recorded six 20-plus point performances in 2017.
Stat of the Game
Notre Dame limited Clemson to just 37 points, marking the lowest output of any Irish opponent since Notre Dame topped Fordham 67-36 on Nov. 14, 2016.
The last time an ACC opponent scored 37 points or fewer was in Notre Dame’s 74-36 win over Clemson on Jan. 24, 2015.
Notes
- Notre Dame has never lost to Clemson, moving to 5-0 all-time.
- The Irish have won 19 straight contests at home.
- Irish are undefeated at home in ACC play with a 36-0 record.
- The 53-point margin of victory was Notre Dame’s largest of any ACC game in five years in the conference.
- Irish have won a school-record 46 consecutive home conference games, dating back to a win over Providence on Feb. 14, 2012 in Big East play.
- Notre Dame is 68-3 all-time in ACC play.
- Notre Dame shot 62 percent (37-60) in the game.
- The Irish held Clemson to just 37 points, the lowest offensive output of any Notre Dame opponent this season.
- Notre Dame recorded 58 points in the paint, the sixth time this season the team has accrued 50-plus points in the paint.
- Kat Westbeld collected 14 points and nine rebounds and came one rebound shy of a double-double.
- In three career games against Clemson, Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 18.0 points per game.
- Arike Ogunbowale finished with 23 points, and has tallied 14 games this season with 20-plus points.
- Jessica Shepard has finished with double-figure points in six straight games, marking a season high.
Up Next
The Irish return to the road for a two-game swing, beginning with a conference matchup at Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 25. The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
–ND–