Notre Dame women's basketball escapes with OT win over DePaul

CHICAGO (AP) — Jewell Loyd scored a career-high 41 points — including seven in overtime — to lead No. 5 Notre Dame to a 94-93 victory over No. 25 DePaul on Wednesday night.

With Notre Dame down 93-92 with 5.3 seconds left in overtime, Loyd was fouled on a drive and hit two free throws to help the Irish (9-1) win their sixth straight in the series.

The Irish overcame a late six-point deficit in regulation to force overtime.

Brittany Hrynko missed four late free throws for DePaul (6-3).

Loyd tied the school record for points and also had 12 rebounds. Madison Cable had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Taya Reimer added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Hrynko scored 32 points for the Blue Demons. Megan Rogowski had 16, and Chanise Jenkins 12.

The teams combined for nine 3-point tries in the opening 6:43 as Notre Dame hit 4 of 4 to open an 18-16 lead, including two from Loyd.

But no advantage was secure as the teams traded leads 11 times until the Irish went up 22-21 on guard Madison Cable's jumper with 8:22 showing.

Notre Dame built a 40-35 halftime lead behind 17 points from Loyd and 10 more from Cable.

But two minutes into the second half DePaul sprinted to a 49-44 lead with a 14-4 run that included a Hrynko's two 3-pointers and another form Megan Podkowa.

Loyd's layup with 16:20 left launched a 10-0 Notre Dame run as the Irish opened a 54-49 lead. DePaul went back up at 64-63 on January's layup on the way to a 71-63 lead, its largest of the night.

Notre Dame rallied to force an 82-82 tie on Loyd's two free throws and DePaul missed a chance to go ahead when Hyrnko missed two free throws with 3.2 seconds left in regulation.

DePaul was only 12 of 29 from the free throw line.

Notes

• Loyd was named ACC player of the week Monday after averaging 20.9 points, 4.5 rebounds 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals against No. 2 UConn and No. 19 Michigan State.

• Hrynko earned Big East top player honors this week after averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds in wins over Butler and Chicago State.

• Loyd, a product of north suburban Niles, Ill., was 12 of 28 from the field and 15 of 18 from the free throw line. She came into the game second in the ACC and 15th nationally in scoring with a 22.2 point average.

• The teams have met 40 times and shared conference membership in the North Star (1983-88) and Big East (2005-13) before the Irish landed in the ACC. DePaul remains in the Big East. Notre Dame has a 21-19 series lead

• The Irish added to their school record with their 28th consecutive road victory. Their last road loss came on March 6, 2012, a 63-54 setback to Connecticut in the Big East championships in Hartford.

• Notre Dame is at Michigan on Saturday. DePaul visits Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 17 and No. 2 Connecticut on Dec. 19.

No. 5 NOTRE DAME 94, No. 25 DEPAUL 93, OT

NOTRE DAME (9-1): Reimer 6-10 3-4 15, Allen 3-6 3-4 9, Cable 8-15 0-0 20, Mabrey 3-13 0-0 9, Loyd 12-28 15-18 41, Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Huffman 0-0 0-0 0, Westbeld 0-4 0-0 0, Wright 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-78 21-26 94.

DEPAUL (6-3): Hrynko 12-23 5-16 32, Jenkins 5-10 1-2 12, January 3-8 3-5 9, Rogowski 7-18 0-2 16, Podkowa 8-13 1-2 20, Schulte 0-0 0-0 0, McGee 0-1 0-0 0, Harvey-Carr 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 36-74 12-29 93.

Halftime--Notre Dame 40-35. End Of Regulation--Tied 82.

3-Point Goals--Notre Dame 9-23 (Cable 4-6, Mabrey 3-8, Loyd 2-7, Johnson 0-2), DePaul 9-27 (Podkowa 3-4, Hrynko 3-8, Rogowski 2-9, Jenkins 1-4, January 0-2).

Fouled Out--Allen, Westbeld.

Rebounds--Notre Dame 58 (Loyd 12), DePaul 38 (Podkowa 8).

Assists--Notre Dame 17 (Allen 6), DePaul 22 (Jenkins 10).

Total Fouls--Notre Dame 25, DePaul 20.

Attendance--3,414.