Turner leaves game with knee injury, Irish survive in OT
The Notre Dame locker room breathed a sigh of relief after surviving 88-82 against Purdue in overtime to advance to the Sweet 16, but immediately went back to a nervous bunch.
"You know my heart just sank, you don't want to see that happen to anybody especially not your All-American, so we're just going to go to the grotto tonight and say a couple prayers," Muffet McGraw said afterward.
Junior Brianna Turner, the Irish's leading scorer, fell awkwardly in the second quarter trying to catch a pass. The replays showed her grabbing her left knee. She was able to walk off and rejoined her team on the bench for the second half, but did not return. Turner is expected to have an MRI Monday on her knee.
"Honestly there's just no words, my heart just dropped and I immediately just started praying. I was just just talking to Ceo. Coach Owens about it and we just prayed immediately throughout the whole second half, constantly keeping her in the back of my mind, just hoping the best for her really," Junior Forward Kathryn Westbeld said.
Sophomore Marina Mabrey, who scored 21 points in the win, was still in shock after the game.
"I was like 'oh god please be OK,' she's one of our go to players, she's always blocking shots when we get beat off the dribble like she does everything, she always rebounds, she's always looking up for the guards so honestly if we lose her it's going to be a big loss, so I think everybody's a little shook," Mabrey said.
Notre Dame advanced to their eighth straight Sweet 16. They will play Ohio State Friday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
**Update**
Notre Dame tells ABC 57 News that they will have a definite word on Turner's knee Tuesday. Still evaluating as of Monday afternoon.