Nov. 19, 2017
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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The No. 6/5 University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team (3-0) topped No. 18/17 Oregon State (2-1), 72-67, in nice come-from-behind fashion on Sunday.
The Fighting Irish overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half, and a sharp-shooting Oregon State team, who knocked down nine three-pointers in front of a raucous crowd at Gill Coliseum.
“I’m really proud of this team right now,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Women’s Basketball Head Coach Muffet McGraw said. “After as poorly as we played in the first half, to come back in the second half and really work on the defensive end was great. I thought we did a much better job of rebounding in the second half, took care of the ball and got the shots we wanted.”
How It Happened
Notre Dame struggled to find a rhythm in the first half as the Beavers jumped out to an 11-2 lead over the first 4:02. A Lili Thompson three-pointer in the final seconds of the period pulled the Irish to within five at 20-15.
Midway through the second quarter, Notre Dame converted four of its next five shot attempts, pulling within three at 30-27 at the 4:03 mark, but Oregon State responded with a 7-2 run to end the half up 37-29.
Trailing 44-33 after OSU’s seventh three-pointer of the game in the third period, Jackie Young sparked an 11-2 run, in which she scored seven of the 11 points, pulling Notre Dame within two at 46-44 at 5:10. Notre Dame went on to convert eight of its next nine from the floor, capped by an Ogunbowale three-pointer at 2:21, giving the Irish its first lead of the game at 51-48.
Next, Young contributed critical back-to-back layups with under two minutes left in the game to bring the Irish lead to 70-65. Up, 70-67 with 12 seconds left, Arike Ogunbowale got an offensive rebound then later drew the foul. The junior made two free throws to give Notre Dame insurance points, ultimately securing the 72-67 victory.
Player of the Game
Young led the Irish offensively, collecting a career-high 21 points, while reeling in eight rebounds.
Eight of Young’s 21 points came in the fourth quarter, when Notre Dame outscored Oregon State 21-15. Ultimately Young was 1-for-4 from the field at halftime before coming out strong with 17 points in the second half.
Stat of the Game
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, Oregon State is 62-7 at home. Of those seven losses, now two were caused by Notre Dame.
Notes
- Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 3-0, over Oregon State, including a 2-0 mark in Corvallis.
- Both Young and Ogunbowale finished with double-digit points for the third straight game.
- Irish outscored the Beavers, 48-26, in the paint. Notre Dame also earned 22 second chance points, out-rebounding OSU, 47-36.
- All seven lead changes and three ties occurred in the second half.
- Just one team (Marquette) scored over 70 points against OSU’s defense last season. Notre Dame scored 72 on Sunday.
Up Next
The Irish road tour rolls into Estero, Fla., for the Gulf Coast Showcase starting Friday, Nov. 24. Notre Dame will play three games in three days in the eight-team bracketed tournament, starting with ETSU.
For more on the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, follow @NDWBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
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