Notre Dame and UConn renew rivalry in Final Four

For now at least, the Bulldogs are best remembered as the team that ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak in last year’s national semifinal, knocking off the mighty Huskies in overtime on a buzzer-beater by guard Morgan William.

For the UConn women’s team, it is the second straight year they have gone undefeated only to lose in the semi-final.

After Connecticut tied with game with 13 seconds remaining, Irish guard Arike Ogunbowale scored with one second left giving Notre Dame the win, and handing the Huskies their first loss this year.

Nearly overshadowed was a phenomenal performance by Irish sophomore guard Jackie Young, who tallied a career high 32 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor – 2-of-4 from three – 10-of-11 from the foul line, and hauled in 11 rebounds.

Mississippi State also won an overtime thriller, beating Louisville 73-63 in overtime. They are the most likely ones to beat CT because they have done it in the past. “There are no bad teams”.

Mississippi State is seeking redemption after a loss to SC in the 2017 title game. I think I’ll remember this one just a little bit more.

“I didn’t think we’d have more ACL tears than losses”, McGraw said. You can’t luck into a national championship. Notre Dame (33-3) won its only tournament championship in 2001.

Now with the two powerhouse programs in different conferences – UConn in the American Athletic Conference and Notre Dame in the Atlantic Coast Conference – the intensity has diminished.

“I tried to get a good shot”, she said. This time it was Notre Dame ending UConn’s unbeaten season 91-89.

It wasn’t long ago Geno Auriemma and Muffet McGraw were constantly on each other’s minds.

A jumper by Collier and a three-pointer from Crystal Dangerfield made it look as if the semifinal was headed to a second overtime before Ogunbowale hit her shot.

UConn junior forward Napheesa Collier led the Huskies with 24 points.

For the Irish to win this game, they’ll have to keep it close and give themselves a chance in the fourth quarter to make UConn have the pressure of hitting shots when the game is on the line.

UConn lost in the Final Four to Notre Dame on Friday night, in an instant classic that featured more lead changes, impossible shots, and sudden twists than any normal fan should be able to handle.

Instead, it is Louisville standing in their way of a second straight title game appearance.

CT has won the last seven meetings between the two schools, including the most recent one on December 3rd, a 80-71 Huskies win in Hartford, CT. “These last two years is a big reminder that this is really hard to do”.

The Huskies feature two players, Gabby Williams and Katie Lou Samuelson, who were named finalists for the Naismith Award, which is awarded to the sport’s best player.

“When I see someone weigh in on our game, that would be like me weighing in on and doing a 30-minute piece on ESPN on curling, and I don’t know (expletive) on curling”, Auriemma said.

But here’s the thing about the UConn women’s team: They are fun to watch.