No. 2 Notre Dame outlasts upset-minded USF in OT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.