MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – Skylar Diggins may not have had the most points, but Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw knows why the Irish came out on top at the Carrier Classic.
Natalie Achonwa had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 7 Notre Dame to a 57-51 victory over No. 19 Ohio State aboard the USS Yorktown outside of Charleston on Friday night.
Diggins, though, got the Irish off to a quick start in the second half, funneling the ball to Achonwa and Kayla McBride to build a 35-25 lead over the first four minutes of the period that Notre Dame would not give up.
“She’s the one who directs us, manages the game, gets us in the offense,” McGraw said. “She did a little bit of everything tonight.”
McBride finished with 16 points and Diggins 11 as the Irish moved to 23-3 in season openers under McGraw.
Tayler Hill scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half for the Buckeyes.
VALPARAISO 64, INDIANA 52: In Valparaiso, former Canterbury standout Tabitha Geradot was one of three Crusaders to score in double digits in both teams’ season opener. Geradot scored 11 to go with Shaquira Scott’s 17 and Gina Lange’s 12. Aulani Sinclair scored 20 for IU.
EVANSVILLE 54, BALL STATE 45: In Muncie, Khristian Hart scored 19 to lead the Purple Aces past the Cardinals, who got 14 from Nathalie Fontaine.
No. 1 BAYLOR 80, LAMAR 34: In Waco, Texas, Brittney Griner scored 24 points as the Bears opened the season with their 41st consecutive victory.
No. 5 MARYLAND 88, MOUNT ST. MARY’S 47: In College Park, Md., Tianna Hawkins had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Terrapins.
No. 9 LOUISVILLE 47, No. 15 TEXAS A&M 45: In Louisville, Ky., Jude Schimmel’s steal and layup with 24 seconds left lifted the Cardinals.
TEXAS 70, No. 14 ST. JOHN’S 60: In Daytona Beach, Fla., Nneka Enemkpali scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Longhorns.
No. 17 WEST VIRGINIA 76, UNC WILMINGTON 47: In Morgantown, W.Va., Christal Caldwell scored 21 points to lead the Mountaineers.
CHATTANOOGA 80, No. 20 TENNESSEE 71: In Chattanooga, Tenn., in their first game since longtime coach Pat Summitt stepped down, the Volunteers were stunned by the Mocs.
No. 23 OKLAHOMA ST. 90, CAL POLY 59: In Stillwater, Okla., Toni Young had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Cowboys.
No. 24 MIAMI 77, NORTH FLORIDA 24: In Coral Gables, Fla., Michelle Woods scored 19 points to lead the Hurricanes.
No. 25 DEPAUL 87, NICHOLLS ST. 57: In Chicago, Brittany Hrynko scored 18 points to lead the Blue Demons.
