SOUTH BEND -- Notre Dame fans had never seen the women's basketball
team walk off its home court with a victory against eight-time
national champion Tennessee in eight previous meetings in South Bend.
And when it happened Monday night, it was an Irish moment to remember.
No. 2 Notre Dame held the Volunteers to the lowest point total in
their storied history, crushing No. 7 Tennessee, 72-44. The previous
low by the Volunteers in the modern era came in a 69-46 loss to
Louisiana Tech on March 26, 1982.
"That's a pretty amazing accomplishment against a team of that
caliber," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "I think we really dug
in defensively and helped each other. That just says a lot about the
pride that we take in our defense."
Notre Dame's 28-point thumping of the Volunteers, the all-time NCAA
wins leader (1,178), was the second-worst defeat in program history.
Texas whacked Tennessee by 31 points on Dec. 11, 1984.
"To be No. 2 with the worst loss in Tennessee history ... that's very
disappointing," Tennessee sophomore Meighan Simmons said.
South Bend's Skylar Diggins scored 27 points and Kayla McBride 17 for the Irish.
Notre Dame post Devereaux Peters turned in a spectacular game, with 16
team walk off its home court with a victory against eight-time
national champion Tennessee in eight previous meetings in South Bend.
And when it happened Monday night, it was an Irish moment to remember.
No. 2 Notre Dame held the Volunteers to the lowest point total in
their storied history, crushing No. 7 Tennessee, 72-44. The previous
low by the Volunteers in the modern era came in a 69-46 loss to
Louisiana Tech on March 26, 1982.
"That's a pretty amazing accomplishment against a team of that
caliber," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "I think we really dug
in defensively and helped each other. That just says a lot about the
pride that we take in our defense."
Notre Dame's 28-point thumping of the Volunteers, the all-time NCAA
wins leader (1,178), was the second-worst defeat in program history.
Texas whacked Tennessee by 31 points on Dec. 11, 1984.
"To be No. 2 with the worst loss in Tennessee history ... that's very
disappointing," Tennessee sophomore Meighan Simmons said.
South Bend's Skylar Diggins scored 27 points and Kayla McBride 17 for the Irish.
Notre Dame post Devereaux Peters turned in a spectacular game, with 16
