Notre Dame win their first NCAA Women’s Championship in 17 Years

Apr 2, 2018 | Sports

COURTESY: HINDU PATRIKA

ELVIN GEORGE

Notre Dame won the NCAA Championship by defeating Mississippi State 61-58 in a late-game thriller last night.

The score was tied up with less than two seconds to go in the game as Notre Dame Junior, Arike Ogunbowale, released a heavily contested shot. The ball soared through the air and went through the net to seal the championship for Notre Dame.

They became the first team to come back from a 15-point deficit in the second half of a championship game. Along with the national title trophy, Ogunbowale also won the MVP of the tournament by averaging nearly 25 points per game.

“Coach McGraw recruits players like this and shoutout anybody thinking of what college to go to , go to Notre Dame,” Ogunbowale told ESPN. “This is what we do, national champs right here.”

 

Ogunbowale had a similar moment in the semi-finals as the game was tied up with five seconds left in overtime. She stepped in front of the three point line and shot the game-winning basket, pushing them past the undefeated UConn (36-0) and onto the finals.

5-time NBA Champion, Kobe Bryant, congratulated Ogunbowale on her skills later in the game but reminded her that the job isn’t done.

The last time Notre Dame won the title was in 2001, exactly 17 years ago. The team has been one of the dominant contenders in the past tournaments as they reached the NCAA Final, five times in the last eight years.

The women’s side finished their March Madness tournament Sunday, and now the men’s side will conclude the tournament on Monday night. Villanova will try to win their second title in the last three years going against sharp shooting Michigan.