Citron, Watson deliver in 2nd overtime, No. 12 Notre Dame women overcome Florida State 98-94
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Sonia Citron scored seven of Notre Dame's 10 points in the second overtime period, Kylee Watson came up with a key steal in the final seconds and the No. 12 Fighting Irish finally finished off a 98-94 come-from-behind victory against Florida State on Sunday.
Citron hit a 3-pointer to give Notre Dame a 91-90 lead and later hit a fastbreak layup to tie it at 93. The score was tied at 94 through much of the final minute before Citron drew a foul on Ta'Niya Latson with 4 seconds left. Citron made both free throws for a 96-94 lead. Watson was credited with the steal when she knocked the ball away on the FSU inbounds and Hannah Hidalgo scooped it up, was fouled and made 2 free throws to finish it.
Hidalgo led Notre Dame (18-5, 8-4) with 27 points. She missed 18 shots (7-for-25) but made 13 of 14 free throws. She also had seven rebounds, nine assists and five steals.
Anna DeWolfe, in her first season with Notre Dame after transferring from Fordham, scored a season-high 24 points, including 6 of 9 3-pointers. Maddy Westbeld had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Citron finished with 18 and 8.
Latson led Florida State with 34 points. She had seven rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks but committed nine turnovers. Makayla Timpson had 18 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks for the Seminoles (17-8, 8-5). O’Mariah Gordon scored 18 and Sara Bejedi added 16 points.
After the Seminoles led for all but four minutes of the first three quarters, the Fighting Irish scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to take their first lead since the end of the first period. There were five more ties and a couple of lead changes in the fourth quarter, the last tie on a jumper by Citron with just under 2 minutes remaining.
With the score tied at 79 and less than 2 minutes to go, both teams were content to work the shot clock and neither team scored again in regulation — Notre Dame missing twice and Florida State missing twice.
Hidalgo hit two free throws to tie the score at 85 with 1:26 left in overtime. Gordon hit a 3-pointer to put Florida State up 88-85, then Dewolfe answered with a 3 for Notre Dame. Again, neither team could convert in the final seconds and the game headed to the dramatic second overtime period.
Notre Dame hosts North Carolina State on Thursday.
Florida State will play at Wake Forest on Thursday.
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