by SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Taya Reimer got fourth-ranked Notre Dame going defensively when she blocked a shot by Louisville’s Mariya Moore less than three minutes into the second half.
Brianna Turner followed with another block on a shot by Moore two minutes later. Then another of a shot by Shawnta’ Dyer, one on a shot by Moore and yet another against Sara Hammond.
The Irish blocked five shots in a little over five minutes during a decisive 16-0 run to beat the eighth-ranked Cardinals 68-52 Monday to win their 12th straight.
”Brianna Turner changed the game with the blocked shots. She was phenomenal,” Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. ”It seemed like she had one on almost every possession.”
Turner finished with seven blocked shots, six in the second half, 11 points and nine rebounds. The Irish were led offensively by Jewell Loyd with 20 points and Reimer with 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field. But the blocked shots were the key as Notre Dame (26-2, 13-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) remained alone in first-place in league standings, while the Cardinals (23-4, 11-3) fell to third place.
Turner said timing was key.
”I just tried to be there at the right spot at the right time to get a hand on it and at least contest the shot,” she said.
The Cardinals went scoreless for 5:40 during the game-turning run, missing eight straight attempts.Bria Smith missed a long jump shot just before the shot clock expired. Then Dyer put up a shot off the bottom of the backboard, followed by a try by Smith as the shot clock expired that went off the top of the backboard.
”I thought we panicked at times,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. ”We got going a little too fast. We were trying to make sure we were working the shot clock and executing the half court and make them defend us.”
Hammond, Moore and Dyer all finished with 11 points for Louisville, which was held to 33 percent shooting, 29 percent in the second half. Hammond added nine rebounds and Moore had six as the Cardinals had a 37-33 edge in rebounding.
Jude Schimmel finished with a team-high 7 assists and a game-high 4 steals for the Cardinals. She also added 5 points
