In one of the most rememerable Final Fours in the history of college basketball, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish got a last second three pointer to defeat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 61-58 in the women’s basketball national championship game played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio Sunday evening.
Notre Dame (35-3) won their second women’s basketball national title in school history, and the first in 17 years. The Irish trailed by 13 at halftime and by 15 halfway through the third quarter, before putting together a 16-1 run to tie things up at 41-41 headed to the fourth. MSU also led by five points with just under two minutes left.
Arike Ogunbowale, who hit a game winning shot two nights earlier to upset Connecticut with one second to play, hit a tough defended three pointer with just 0.1 seconds left on the clock Sunday to help the Irish raise the trophy.
Mississippi State, who finished 37-2, was led by Victoria Vivians who had 21 points and nine rebounds. Teaira McCowan added 18 points and 17 rebounds, before fouling out with just three seconds left.
Jessica Shepard led the Irish with 19 points and six rebounds. Ogunbowale had 18 points, and Marina Mabrey added 10 points and seven rebounds.
