Cable helps No. 3 Notre Dame beat UCLA 92-84 in overtime
FREEPORT, Bahamas (AP) Madison Cable saves her best games for UCLA.
She scored a career-best 22 points to help No. 3 Notre Dame outlast UCLA 92-84 in overtime Saturday in the Junkanoo Jam championship game. Cable, who earned MVP honors, also had nine rebounds.
''It was a great game. UCLA is a really good team, super athletic,'' said Cable, who had a previous career high of 21 points against UCLA two years ago. ''It was a really tough game.''
UCLA trailed by two with 4.3 seconds left before Jordin Canada hit a basket to tie it at 76.
Lindsay Allen, who finished with 15 points, had a chance for the win in regulation but her 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the front rim.
Marina Mabrey added 18 points for the Irish (6-0) and made the all-tournament team.
''What a weekend she had,'' coach Muffet McGraw said about her freshman. ''Coming off the Valparaiso game, she's someone who wants to play and prove she deserves to be out there.''
Notre Dame jumped out to a 24-13 lead after the first quarter and held a 10-point halftime lead before the Bruins rallied in the second half to tie it and send it to overtime. The Irish outscored the Bruins 16-8 in the extra session.
''I'm so thankful we won the game,'' McGraw said. ''We did so many good things. Madison Cable was huge all game. We made some free throws when we had to. I thought our poise at the end was excellent.''
Monique Billings had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Bruins (3-2). Nirra Fields also had 18 before fouling out in overtime. Canada finished with 12 points and eight assists.
''I love the fight in this team and the grit that they showed, fighting through the foul trouble to get that game into overtime,'' UCLA coach Cori Close said. ''We have shown we are a top 20 team in the country. We have now played the No. 2 team and the No. 3 team in country to a one possession game. We have proven that they are one of the elite teams in the country. There is a small gap between good and great and that what these two losses are going to teach us. We will learn from it and will be there in March.''
Notre Dame was still missing Brianna Turner, who injured her right shoulder in practice on Tuesday. She'll be re-evaluated on Monday.
TIP-INS:
UCLA: This is the second top-three team that UCLA has played in the past week. The Bruins lost to No. 2 South Carolina 68-65 on Nov. 22. ... The Bruins hold a 9-8 lead over the Fighting Irish, however, Notre Dame has won the past four meetings and six of the past seven against UCLA.
Notre Dame: The Irish have won seven regular-season tournament titles since 2009-10, including two at the Junkanoo Jam (2011). ... Notre Dame hasn't lost a game in November in the past four years. ... This was the Irish's sixth game in 13 days.
WELCOME BACK: Irish center Taya Reimer played 24 minutes after missing the last two games with a sore Achilles. She played 24 minutes with two points and three rebounds.
UP NEXT:
UCLA hosts Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 5.
Notre Dame hosts Ohio State in the Big Ten/ACC challenge Wednesday night.
