Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Clemson Tigers

No. 7 Notre Dame struggles to beat Clemson 84-80

Mabrey scored 24 of her career-high 29 points in the second half to help the seventh-ranked Fighting Irish hold off stubborn Clemson 84-80 on Thursday night.

Despite her milestone, Notre Dame's eighth straight win or the Irish moving into first place alone in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Mabrey was distressed about her team's focus down the stretch.

"We were not ready to play at all," she said. "We almost learned a lesson tonight. We got lucky. Hopefully, we don't do something like that again."

Mabrey made sure it didn't happen against the resurgent Tigers, who came in winning three of their past five games after losing 41 in a row against ACC competition.

The sophomore scored 24 of Notre Dame's 41 points in the final two quarters, including several critical ones to keep the Tigers at bay.

After Nelly Perry cut a 17-point Notre Dame lead to 71-63 with 5:34 to go, Mabrey hit two baskets to extend the Irish edge. When Aliyah Collier basket drew Clemson within 80-77, Mabrey struck again with a jumper on the next Notre Dame possession.

And when Perry brought Clemson as close as it would come, 82-80, with two foul shots and 11.5 seconds remaining, Mabrey followed with the clinching foul shots.

"She was phenomenal," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said about Mabrey. "She took it all on her back."

Mabrey surpassed her previous career best of 27, set in a win over Louisiana-Lafayette in November.

Perry had a career best 24 points to lead Clemson. Kobi Thornton added 20 points, also a career best.

Notre Dame's Brianna Turner finished with just nine points, only the third time this season she was held under double digits.

THE BIG PICTURE

Clemson: The Tigers have made a late-season turnaround to a season that looked lost. Clemson had lost 41 straight to ACC competition and was blown out, 86-27, by Florida State at home on Jan. 15. But the Tigers have won three of their past five games since ending their winless string with 62-61 victory over Georgia Tech on Jan. 29.

TURNAROUND TIGERS

Clemson continued its strong run down the stretch against Notre Dame. The Tigers, who had lost their first eight ACC games, have won three of their past six. "This team is growing, they're growing, they're growing," Clemson fourth-year coach Audra Smith said. "They're getting better and better."

BAD IRISH

Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said her team's defense was subpar once again, an issue she's dealt with way too often this season. "Our defense is just awful," she said. "We have no fight in our defense whatsoever. It's a shame because we could be really good."

McGraw said injured players like Kathryn Westbeld and Mychal Johnson should return soon to spark the defense.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame heads to No. 21 Syracuse on Sunday.

Clemson travels to No. 4 Florida State on Saturday.

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• TV Channel: Fighting Irish vs Tigers 2021 College Basketball, week 15, is broadcasted on ACC Extra.
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Location: Clemson, SC
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