No. 2 Notre Dame outlasts upset-minded USF in OT

Tampa, FL – Natalie Achonwa finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals as second-ranked Notre Dame edged South Florida, 75-71, in overtime on Tuesday.

Skylar Diggins added 19 points, six assists and five blocks and Jewell Loyd poured in 18 points to go with 13 boards for the Fighting Irish (13-1, 2-0 Big East), winners in eight straight.

Andrea Smith poured in a game-high 33 points to go with 11 boards and Andrell Smith added 15 points for the Bulls (11-3, 0-1), who had won three of their last four entering the contest.

Notre Dame led, 55-48, following Michaela Mabrey's jumper near the midway point of the second half, but a 13-6 USF run knotted things up at 61-61 with just over two minutes remaining.

Loyd buried a pair from the free throw line a bit later, but Andrell Smith's jumper tied the game with 54 ticks showing in regulation.

Loyd bricked a layup with 25 seconds left, but the Bulls couldn't cash in on the miscue. Diggins' layup at the buzzer was off target, forcing the bonus period.

The Irish opened overtime with a 9-4 surge to take a 72-67 lead with just over a minute to go, and the Bulls couldn't get closer than four the rest of the way.