How the Irish Were Able to Overcome a Valiant Effort from the Tigers

Olivia Miles scored 17 points in Notre Dame's win over Clemson. (Photo By: Charles Mays)

Shawn Poppie’s team showed a lot of heart in today’s game against the third-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Even though the Fighting Irish were missing Hannah Hidalgo, who averages 25.7 points per game, they were 23.5-point favorites against the Clemson Tigers. Although the Tigers were heavy underdogs, their defensive prowess helped them keep this game close until the final horn sounded. In the end, the Irish were able to flex their muscles and hang on to win a close one, 67-58, at Littlejohn Coliseum. But how were they able to win? Here are the two biggest reasons why the Irish were able to hold on and beat the Tigers.

1. Liatu King and Olivia Miles. With Notre Dame’s best player, Hannah Hidalgo, not playing, the Irish needed a boost from other players in their starting lineup to win at Littlejohn Coliseum today. Liatu King and Olivia Miles were those players. King had averaged 13.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2 blocks over the course of the last 5 games and continued her recent success in today’s game against the Tigers. Olivia Miles has averaged 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 2 steals in her last 5 games. Both players were key figures in Notre Dame’s win as Liatu King had 23 points on 10/14 shooting from the field with 11 rebounds and a block while Olivia Miles had 17 points on 5/12 shooting with 4 rebounds and 9 assists. Both of these players stepping up helped end any chance of the Tigers getting an upset win in front of an energetic crowd.

2. Clemson’s Lack of Scoring and the Irish Defense. This game was going to be an uphill battle for the Tigers even if they were able to shoot the lights out, but going 8/31 from the field during the first half certainly did not help. Clemson went 10 minutes without scoring a basket from the field in the first half and were unable to make a three as they were 0/10 from behind the arc. The shooting woes wouldn’t get much better in the second half as the Tigers shot 13/31 from the floor and 4/10 from behind the arc in the second frame. Although Clemson did not shoot the ball well today, much of the credit should go to Notre Dame’s defense for being able to stop this Tiger offense. Throughout the season, Notre Dame has been one of the premier defenses in women’s college basketball. They have

held their opponents to just 61.5 points per game on 36.2% shooting this season. The Clemson Tigers would’ve liked a different result from today’s game, but Shawn Poppie’s team should be proud of their valiant effort against the third-ranked team in the country. The Tigers will try to bounce back from this tough loss on January 16th at Florida State.