Notre Dame captures NCAA Women's Tourney Championship with win over Mississippi St- Gallery4/2/2018
Written by Adrian Beecher
COLUMBUS, OH-- Seventeen years ago to the day, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women's basketball team earned their first ever National Title. Sunday night, after falling behind by 15 points, the Irish roared back, and guard Arike Ogunbowale hit a game-winner at the buzzer to get back on top of the Women's College Basketball world, with a 61-58 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs to win the 2018 National Title.
Here's how it all went down in Columbus. The Irish got off to a hot start, taking an early 6-0 lead over the Bulldogs, with shots falling in for forward Jessica Shepard, Ogunbowale and guard Jackie Young. Mississippi State's first points of the night came from guard Victoria Vivians three minutes and 11 seconds into the game, off of a jumper. However, this did not seem to jumpstart the Bulldogs offense as they trailed 10-4 as we reached the under-five-minute media timeout in the 1st quarter. The timeout seemed to help out though as Vivians put in a bucket for the Bulldogs to start a 13-2 run to take the lead. As we reached the end of the 1st quarter, Mississippi State had a 17-14 lead over the Fighting Irish. The 2nd quarter started off with both teams struggling shooting, going scoreless for the first three minutes of the quarter. A triple from guard Blair Schaefer would end the scoring drought for the Bulldogs as they took a 20-14 lead. Notre Dame's struggles continued and the Bulldogs took advantage, pulling out to a 24-14 lead over the Irish midway through the quarter. The first points of the quarter for Notre Dame would come with 3:08 remaining in the quarter, as Shepard put in a jumper and earned a trip to the line, where she trimmed the deficit to seven. Excitement, however, was limited for the Irish the rest of the 1st half. Mississippi State ended the 2nd quarter on a 6-0 run, to take a 30-17 lead into the locker room at the half. Vivians was the leading scorer for Mississippi State with 14 points. Center Teaira McCowan led the team in rebounds with eight. The Irish, on the other hand, relied heavily on Shepard who led the team with seven points, hitting 75% from the field. The rest of Notre Dame was shooting just 21% from the field, hitting only 4 of 19 shots. Shepard continued to play the lead role for the Irish as the second half got underway, putting in the 1st basket. This put a little spark in their squad as a steal an score on the ensuing possession by Irish guard Marina Mabrey quickly cut the deficit to just eight, 50 seconds into the second half. This didn't slow down the Bulldogs attack though. They would push the lead to 15 with 6:41 left in the 3rd after going on a an 8-1 run, highlighted by a triple from Schaefer. The Irish would follow suit with a 6-0 run of their own to trim the lead back to 9 with 4:58 left in the quarter. A free throw from McCowan at the other end would extend the Bulldogs lead back to 10. However, Notre Dame continued to chip away at the deficit little by little. With 1:05 left in the 3rd quarter, Ogunbowale drained a free throw to cap a 16-1 run that made it 41-39, with the Bulldogs clinging to the lead. Two missed free throws by Mississippi State would turn into points at the other end for the Irish after two offensive rebounds but Schaefer would tie the game with 17 seconds left in the quarter. As the fourth and final quarter got underway, it was anyone's game with things knotted at 41. Shepard would again get things going for the Irish to start the quarter as she put in a quick layup to put the Irish on top. This, however, was answered with two made free throws from the Bulldogs as the two teams traded punches, vying for the title. After tying the game up three times following Irish basket's, the Bulldogs went back on top with 7:41 left to play on a jumper from the left side for McCowan. She followed that with another basket to give Mississippi State a four point lead. Then, just as quickly as the lead grew for Mississippi State, the score was tied back at 51 with just 5:35 left to play. The Bulldogs would then go on a 7-2 run to take a 58-53 lead over the Irish with just 1:58 left to play as guard Roshunda Johnson hit a triple. Mississippi State head coach Vic Schaefer called timeout, which worked against them, as it slowed their momentum. Out of the timeout, Mabrey hit a triple to cut the deficit to just two. Then with just 45 seconds left to play, Young hit a jumper to tie things up at 58. That is when things got a bit frantic for each team as they both turned the ball over. Then McCowan fouled out with only three seconds left to play. On the inbound pass to Ogunbowale, she took two steps and then threw it up from the right side beyond the arc. The entire arena went silent as the ball sailed on its way to the rim. As it sank threw, the buzzer sounded at the Irish faithful erupted in jubilation. Upon further review, they would put 0.1 second back on the clock, but it wasn't enough for the Bulldogs to put up a shot. The win cements the Irish in history and gives head coach Muffet McGraw her 2nd National Title. Ogunbowale and Shepard combined for 37 points to lead the Irish. Ogunbowale was named the MVP of the game after hitting the game-winning shot.
Written by Adrian Beecher
COLUMBUS, OH -- Jackie Young's 32 points, 11 rebounds and the luck of the Irish helped to lead Notre Dame to a thrilling 91-89 overtime win over the UCONN Huskies in the 2018 NCAA Womens Basketball National Semi-final. It was a game that saw each team take double-digit leads, as they both fought to keep their season alive.
Here's how it all went down in the Columbus, Ohio at Nationwide Arena! UConn's Gabby Williams got the scoring started for the Huskies to get things underway. Then it was Jessica Shepard getting things started for the Irish with a jumper to start a 7-0 run as Notre Dame went up 7-2 just 1:41 into the game. The Huskies quickly cut it to a one-point deficit. However, then the Irish went on an 8-0 run kicked off by a layup from Shepard. This made it 15-6 with just 4:19 left to play in the 1st quarter. Katie Lou Samuelson hit a triple for the Huskies to end the run and Napheesa Collier followed it up with a layup to cut the deficit to just four. Then it was again the Irish getting hot as they pushed the lead to 13 with a triple from Jackie Young with just 58 seconds left in the quarter. Then as time was expiring, Samuelson hit a triple to cut the deficit to 10. At the end of the first quarter, the Irish looked to be in control, leading 24-14. Then came the 2nd quarter, where things went downhill quickly for Notre Dame. Azurá Stevens got things started for the Huskies with a jumper early in the quarter to spark a 10-0 run that saw things tied up with 6:55 left in the half. A jumper from Young of Notre Dame would put an end to the run as the two squads went back and forth, as the Irish clung to their lead. Then with 4:46 left in the half, Stevens hit a jumper to put the Huskies on top 31-30. That was the start of a 12-0 run that saw UCONN take a 41-30 lead with just 1:46 left in the first half. The Irish would make the final two baskets of the first half to cut the deficit to just seven at the break. Out of the break, Jackie Young would put in a layup for the Irish to trip the deficit to five. The Huskies would extend their lead to nine before Notre Dame once again chipped away at the deficit. With five minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Arike Ogunbowale hit a jumper to make it just a one-point game. With 2:21 left in the 3rd quarter, Marina Mabrey hit a triple to put the Irish up 54-53. The Huskies quickly answered on the other end with as the two teams traded the lead back and forth. UConn would hold the upper hand has the third quarter came to an end with the Huskies leading 60-57. In the final quarter, Notre Dame put in the first bucket, coming from Kristina Nelson, to make it just a one-point game. Then it was the Huskies turn as they went on a 7-0 run to take a 67-59 lead over the Irish with just 6:49 left to play. Notre Dame continued to claw their way back into it and with 3:42 left to play, it was once again just a one-point Huskies lead. After a timeout by UCONN, Ogunbowale drilled a jumper to give the Irish a 73-72 lead. Williams for UConn would hit a jumper at the other end to put the Huskies back on top. Then two free throws from Young for Notre Dame started a 6-0 run to give the Irish a 79-74 lead with just 21 seconds left to play. What ensued could be described as a minor meltdown. After the made free throws, a break down on defense left Collier wide open triple that she drained with just 15 seconds left. Then on the inbound, Shepard turned the ball over and as Nurse took the steal for the Huskies to tie the game up at 79. Then with it all tied up, Notre Dame just needed to hold the ball for the last shot to try for the win. However, Shepard bounced the ball off her shoe, and it went out of bounds with just 3 seconds left to play. This gave the Huskies a chance to win the game with one final shot. However, Williams would miss the close jumper as time expired, sending us to overtime. In overtime, Shepard found her way to the free throw line as she sunk one of two shots to put the Irish up 80-79. At the other end, a wide open Kia Nurse drained a triple to put the Huskies back on top 82-80. After the Irish tied it up, Shepard put in a jumper to put Notre Dame on top 84-82. A defensive stop at the other end =, saw the Irish take a fast break straight to the hoop as Ogunbowale made her way to the free throw line. She would drill them both to put the Irish up 86-82 with 3:04 left in the OT. The Irish would increase their lead to five with just 44 seconds left to play. After UConn called a timeout, Collier hit a jumper to cut the deficit to just three with 38 seconds left in overtime. The Huskies would then play the foul game as they fouled Ogunbowale. She would miss both shots at the time and at the other end, it was Crystal Dangerfield drilling a game-tying triple. In a case of redemption, the Irish once again had the ball with a chance at the last shot. This time they would not let the opportunity slip away as they ran the clock down and Ogunbowale drained a long two from the right side with just one second left. A desperation attempt from the Huskies was not able to be attempted due to the defense of the Irish as they punched their ticket to the title game and handed the UCONN Huskies their first loss of the season. Notre Dame now moves on to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday, April 1st in the 2018 Women's National Championship game.
Written by Adrian Beecher
Columbus, OH - True grit, and a never quit mentality, led by a 21 point and 25 rebound performance by Teaira McCown, along with a 25 point performance from Victoria Vivians, led the Mississippi State Bulldogs to a 73-63 win over Louisville in the National Semi-Final in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
Here's how it all went down in Columbus at Nationwide Arena. Both squads got off to a slow start with the first five field goals of the game missing the mark. Louisville's Asia Durr hit a triple and was fouled on the shot.This sent her to the line where she would make it 4-0 early for the Cardinals. They would hold a 6-0 lead before Mississipi State finally got their first points of the game. Those points would come at the free throw line as Teaira McCown sank both to make it a 6-2 game with the Bulldogs trailing. This helped get things rolling a bit for the State, who was able to get on an 11-4 run to end the first quarter as they took a 13-11 lead over Louisville. Victoria Vivians, five points on that run, led the Bulldogs in scoring at the end of the 1st quarter. Durr was the Cards leading scorer with six. As the 2nd quarter got underway, Louisville wasted no time getting things knotted back up with a basket from Dana Evans. Then, it was Morgan William hitting from beyond the arc to give the Bulldogs a three-point lead, that would grow to five with 7:12 left in the 1st half. Then the Cardinals went on a 10-2 run to take regain the lead at 25-22 with 4:42 left in the half. The Bulldogs of Mississippi State would return the favor with a 9-3 run of their own to end the first half. As the teams went into the locker room, the Bulldogs held the 31-30 advantage over Louisville. Miss. State center, Teaira McCown grabbed nine 1st half rebounds. This put her at 76 total rebounds for the NCAA tournament, which set a new NCAA tourney record. To start the second half, Vivians got things going for State with a jumper to push their lead to 3. For the Cardinals, it was Durr with the first 2nd half bucket on a jumper on the ensuing possession. Things maintained a back and forth pace with no one team gaining an advantage over the other in the third quarter. In the final minute of the third quarter, after both teams averaged just 10% combined from beyond the arc, they started falling. Durr drained one with 46 seconds left to play in the quarter to take a 45-43 lead. Then Vivians hit one at the other end with just 25 seconds left on the clock to put the Bulldogs back in front. Then right before the final buzzer at the end of the 3rd, Durr again drained one to give State the 48-46 lead. Keeping with the rhythm, Myisha Hines-Allen drained a triple to open the 4th quarter for the Cards to extend their lead at 51-46. Shortly after that, Durr hit a fadeaway jumper from eight feet away to give the Cardinals their largest lead of the game at 7. With 6:59 left to play, it was 53-46 Cards. Miss. State head coach Johnnie Harris took a timeout to regroup the squad. The timeout indeed paid off as back to back buckets out of the break for the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit just one after a bucket from McCowan made it 53-52 with 4:49 to play. The run would continue after a Louisville turnover, as McCowan snagged her 16th rebound and put the offensive board back up for a Bulldogs bucket. Then on the ensuing Mississippi State possession, Sam Fuehring from Louisville was called for a technical foul, which tallied as her 5th personal as she fouled out. Both free throws were hit by William for the Bulldogs to make it 56-53 with just 2:42 left to play. The 10-0 run for Mississippi State was put to a halt by Hines-Allen, who hit a jumper to start a 6-0 run for the Cardinals. With 11 seconds left to play the Cardinals looked like they were headed to the title game with a 59-56 lead over the Bulldogs. Roshunda Johnson, however, had other plans as she drained a game-tying triple with 7 seconds left to play. Down the other end of the floor, Louisville was unable to get in a basket and time expired to send the game into overtime. The first basket of overtime came from Vivian's who drained a triple to give State a 62-59 lead with 4:23 left in overtime. Neither team would score for the next three minutes until Vivian's hit another basket with 1:20 left to play to push the Bulldogs lead to five. A set of free throws from Durr would give the Cardinals their first points of the overtime. The first field goal for the Cardinals in overtime followed soon after as Bre'Amber Scott hit a jumper to make it a one-point deficit with 50 seconds left in the OT. However, that would be the last time a point would go on the board for the Cardinals as Mississippi State ended the game on a 9-0 run to punch their ticket to the 2018 Women's Basketball National Championship game. Written by Brandon Clearwaters Spokane, WA- Monday night, the top-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the two-seeded Oregon Ducks at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. After a hard-fought battle, the Notre Dame defeated Oregon 84-74. With this win, the Fighting Irish advance to the Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. All fans that that attended this gamer were treated to the most exciting matchup of the NCAA Woman's basketball season. The first half saw both teams ready for the championship game, coming out aggressive on both sides of the ball. Both sides shot the ball very well from the field with the Fighting Irish shooting 62.5% while the Ducks shot 55.6%. Notre Dame also shot well from three-point range, shooting 50.0%. The most extensive lead in the half was from Oregon's nine-point lead with 45 seconds left in half. The Ducks took a 46-40 lead into halftime. The Fighting Irish had four players score in double figures, while the Ducks had three players. Oregon was led by guard Sabrina Ionescu who finished with 26 points. Oregon forward Ruthy Hebard finished with double-double with 17 points and 10rebounds. After the heartbreaking loss, Oregon head coach Kelly Graves spoke after about the game. "Well, I first to congratulate Notre Dame on moving on to the Final Four,” said Graves. “They're a great program. Coach McGraw does such a great job. This particular group is a great team. I'm disappointed for us. I know this is something that we obviously wanted. It was attainable, I felt. I think the second half was the separation. You saw a team that was still trying to get to where we've been before. And you saw a team that knew how to get there, and they wanted it. It shows up in that rebound stats." Notre Dame out-rebounded Oregon, 51-29. Graves also added, "it doesn't take anything away from what a great season these girls have had. There are so many firsts. I can't even enumerate them. Pac-12 champions twice over this season. They acted and behaved like champions all year. Today we didn't have enough in the second half to get it done." After their fantastic win, Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw spoke about the victory. "So proud of this team, where we came from, what we've overcome to get here, over a significant Oregon team,” said McGraw. “Sabria Ionescu, just a fantastic player. Did a great job on her in the third quarter, I thought was as well as we played defensively. That was the difference in the game. We got them to miss a couple of shots, rebounded well. Kathryn, you expect a senior to be ready to lead your team, she certainly did that tonight. Balance in the scoring like we've had.” With this victory, the Fighting Irish will appear in their eighth Final Four and sixth since 2011. |
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