SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Brianna Turner had 26 points and 13 rebounds as No. 4 Notre Dame dominated Virginia inside and put the game away with a 12-0 run late to win 75-54 on Thursday night.
The 6-foot-3 Turner repeatedly took advantage of her size as the Irish (22-2, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) led comfortably for much of the game. Turner scored twice on alley-oops, including using two hands to swat in a pass from Lindsay Allen for an easy basket and hit several layups.
But the Cavaliers (15-8, 5-5), who cut the lead to five points late in the first half after falling behind by 15, trailed by 10 at halftime and played Notre Dame even for most of the second half until the decisive run.
Jewell Loyd added 14 points despite shooting just 4-of-15 from the field and Allen had 12 for the Irish, who outscored the Cavaliers 50-18 in the paint. The Irish also outrebounded the Cavaliers 42-30. Faith Randolph led Virginia with 16 and Sarah Imovbioh finished with 16 rebounds and three points, all at the free-throw line.
After Mikayla Venson hit a 3-pointer to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 63-52, the Irish responded with the 12-0 run highlighted by a rebound basket by Turner, who then hit a layup, as the Cavaliers didn’t make another shot from the field in the final 5:40.
The 21-point loss was the second worst for Virginia this season. They lost by 23 to Illinois.
TIP INS
Virginia: It was the Cavaliers’ first game at Notre Dame. … Virginia’s last victory against a team ranked No. 4 or higher was a 69-64 win against third-ranked Tennessee in 2011. … Since beating Florida State and Maryland in back-to-back games last season, the Cavaliers have lost five straight to ranked opponents. … The Cavaliers play three straight games against ranked opponents, with upcoming games against No. 15 Duke and No. 9 Florida State.
Notre Dame: The victory evened the series with the Cavaliers at 2-2. … The only ACC team that has yet to play at Notre Dame is North Carolina State, which isn’t scheduled to play at Purcell Pavilion this season.
UP NEXT
Virginia: Hosts No. 15 Duke on Feb. 12.
Notre Dame: At Boston College on Sunday.
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