Notre Dame Wins the NCAA National Women’s Basketball Title
One team.
One goal.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! #GoIrish☘ pic.twitter.com/4c2JGpAJN1
— NOTRE DAME WBB (@ndwbb) April 2, 2018
(Columbus,Oh) Notre Dame Junior Guard Arike Ogunbowale sank a game winning shot in the final seconds of the NCAA Womens Championship game to lead the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to the National Title. The game winner was an off balance shot just behind the three point line which went through the hoop without touching the rim propelling Notre Dame to a 61-58 win over Mississippi State.
Just when you thought @Arike_O’s game winner couldn’t look any better…#GoIrish
— NOTRE DAME WBB (@ndwbb) April 2, 2018
Because we couldn’t pick just one…
Check out the photo gallery from Friday’s #WFinalFour win over UConn that send the Irish to the NCAA Championship game!
? https://t.co/zGwCpj8f1Z#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/X5zsdjouFh
— NOTRE DAME WBB (@ndwbb) March 31, 2018
As for Sunday night, Arike and her crew did not make winning the second Women’s Hoops title in school history look easy. The Bulldogs of Mississippi State outscored the Irish by three in the first quarter and went into the locker room with a 13 point lead at the Half (30-17). In the second half head coach Muffett McGraw had her ladies firing on all cylinders as the Irish dropped in 24 points in the third quarter and followed up with 20 in the final stanza. The effort was ignited by lay up by Jessica Shepard who scored the first bucket of the second half , followed by steal and bucket by Marina Mabrey.
Irish end the 3rd Quarter on a 16-1 run and have tied this Championship game!!!
ND 41 – MSU 41
☝ quarter left. pic.twitter.com/zOs8ZfExBV
— NOTRE DAME WBB (@ndwbb) April 1, 2018
Notre Dame then caught fire with 5:59 to go in the third quarter down by 15 points(25-40). Kathryn Westbelds layup was the start of a 16 to 1 run which ended with the score tied 41 a piece at the end of the quarter. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs their star Teaira McCowan (6’7″ junior from Brenham Texas ) who finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds, would foul out with 3 seconds left in regulation. That may have been pivotal, because with the ball in possesion of the Irish McCowan could have used her 6’7″ frame to make it difficult for Young to inbound the ball to Ogunbowalee and prevent the eventual game winner from taking place.
Postgame Presser ?: Listen to @ndwbb National Championship reaction! https://t.co/YwClrbspK2
— NCAA Women’s BKB (@ncaawbb) April 2, 2018
Trevin A Jones
Follow me on Twitter: @UMTSportsrepot