By Staff
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Notre Dame's Charel Allen scored a career-high 35 points to lead the Lady Irish to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
Allen helped Notre Dame come back from a five-point deficit in overtime to defeat Oklahoma 79-75.
The Lady Irish and Lady Sooners were tied at 70 after regulation.
Notre Dame (25-8) had a chance to win the game in regulation as it went up 65-60 with 2:02 to play.
Oklahoma's Courtney Paris, the daughter of former Michigan football standout Bubba Paris, tied the game with 13.7 seconds remaining.
In the extra session, the Lady Sooners quickly opened up a five-point advantage only to have Allen lead the charge for Notre Dame.
Allen hit a 3-pointer and then came up with a steal and an assist on Ashley Barlow's layup to tie the game at 70.
Barlow and Tulyah Gaines hit 3 out of four shots to give the Lady Irish the lead.
Allen sealed the victory at the free throw line, where she finished the night a perfect 12-of-12.
Besides Allen's offensive output, Barlow finished with 16 points.
Paris, the national player of the year, finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds.
The Lady Irish face another tall task on Sunday in the regional semifinal as they take on defending national champion Tennessee in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The Lady Volunteers advanced to the regional semifinals with a 78-52 win over host Purdue in the first game on Tuesday. The win was Tennessee head coach Pat Summit's 100th career win in the NCAA tournament.