COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Jewell Loyd scored a career-high 31 points, Kayla McBride had 20 and second-ranked and unbeaten Notre Dame blew a 22-point lead before coming back to beat No. 8 Maryland 87-83 Monday night.
The Irish (19-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) appeared on their way to another easy victory after building a 41-19 lead late in the first half. But Maryland (16-3, 4-2) stormed back behind senior star Alyssa Thomas to go up 64-63 with 10 minutes left.
Notre Dame answered with a 10-2 run and the Terrapins never got even after that.
McBride hit a long jumper as the shot clock was about to expire to make it 87-83 with 12.2 seconds to go, the last in a series of clutch shots by the Irish in their closest game of the season.
Loyd, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard, missed Notre Dame’s last game with a sprained knee. She returned to score 20 points in the first half and finished 12 for 20 from the floor and 7 for 8 at the foul line.
NO. 4 STANFORD 86, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 59
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Chiney Ogwumike had 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead Stanford over Southern California in a game between the Pac-12’s top teams.
Mikaela Ruef added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Cardinal (19-1, 8-0), who won their 18th straight to open a two-game lead at the top of the conference standings.
Amber Orrange and Lili Thompson scored 12 points apiece, Karlie Samuelson had 10 and Stanford beat the Trojans for the 13th straight time.
Ariya Crook scored 18 points and Cassie Harberts added 17 for USC (14-7, 7-2 Pac-12), which had won four straight and nine of its last 10. The loss was in overtime at then No. 23 Arizona State.
NO. 19 PURDUE 80, ILLINOIS 68
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Courtney Moses scored 22 points to lead a balanced attack that carried Purdue past Illinois for the sixth straight time.
KK Houser added 17 points and six assists for Purdue (15-5, 5-3 Big Ten). April Wilson had 15 and eight rebounds and Liza Clemons scored 13.
Purdue will host No. 12 Penn State, the conference leader, on Thursday. The Boilermakers beat the Lady Lions 84-74 on Jan. 12.
Jacqui Grant scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Illinois (9-11, 2-5) and Ivory Crawford added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.